France gripped by spreading student protests as PM calls crisis meeting

PARIS (AP) — France's prime minister convened a crisis meeting Thursday and canceled ministers' trips to focus on the nationwide spread of protests, some violent, by high school students venting about under-resourced schools, long hours and other complaints.

The demonstrations erupted in Paris-region schools last week and have snowballed, with police making hundreds of arrests in clashes with the young protesters. Authorities have reported many dozens of injuries, including from hurled objects but also, in some suspected cases, from police riot-control projectiles.

The protests are quickly blowing up as a hot topic in the election campaign to replace President Emmanuel Macron, who is constitutionally barred from seeking a third consecutive term next May. They are also heightening pressure on the government beset by France's growing financial problems, and overshadowing the release on Thursday of its proposed cost-cutting budget for 2027.

At a Paris high school where students barricaded an entrance, 18-year-old Salama Gargouri said protesters want to target “overloaded schedules, the system, the teachers, people who don’t listen to us, the university application process.”

High school students in France often start classes at 8 a.m. and remain at school until late afternoon.

“Older people say, ‘Kids, go to school from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day.’ But you don’t know what that does mentally,” said Janna Tahari, another Paris high school student.

Arson, thrown projectiles and other violence on the margins of some protests have caused mounting injuries and recriminations. The interior minister has issued orders for police to break up blockades that prevent pupils from attending classes and to put a stop to violence and vandalism.

Juliette Estiville, a high school Spanish teacher, said that the repression of the protests led her to join the students.

“So, I’m here just to provide protection, to form a barrier between the police and the students,” she said. “And indeed, today went well, it’s going well, but I really think that the teachers who come to the blockades are really just there to protect our young people.”

Education Minister Edouard Geffray said Thursday's violence included a school set on fire and staff doused with gasoline. He said he issued instructions that classes be held remotely when blockades or damage to schools put students at risk.

"Violence will not deprive our students of their fundamental right to education,” Geffray said in a post on X.

Far-left presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Mélenchon has denounced the government response as repressive. His critics have accused Mélenchon's party of inciting violence and using the unrest to score points ahead of the presidential election.

The office of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said he asked ministers to cancel any planned official trips in the coming days, to enable authorities and police to focus on dealing with the demonstrations.

Samuel Petrequin in Paris contributed to this report

A students holds a board reading, "we want the BAC (High School Diploma) Not the BAC (Anti-criminality units)" during a protest to demand more resources at school, in Lille, France, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

In this photo taken with a smartphone, high school students block the entrance of Voltaire high school to demand more resources, in Paris, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Nicolas Garriga)

In this photo taken with a smartphone, high school students block the entrance of Voltaire high school to demand more resources, in Paris, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Nicolas Garriga)

In this photo taken with a smartphone, high school students block the entrance of Voltaire high school to demand more resources, in Paris, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Nicolas Garriga)

Students burn garbage as they protest to demand more resources at school, in Lille, France, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

A students holds a board reading, "we want BAC (High School Diploma) Not the BAC (Anti-criminality units)" during a protest to demand more resources at school, in Lille, France, Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)

ROME (AP) — It’s not just the struggling national team that embattled Italian soccer federation president Giovanni Malagò has to worry about these days.

Malagò is facing an inquiry by the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) — a body he used to lead — over an alleged irregularity in his election that could result in his removal and an emergency commissioner taking over.

And — at least as long as he’s got the job— Malagò has also inherited Italy’s problem-plagued preparations for hosting the 2032 European Championship.

This week, the federation submitted a list to UEFA of 14 stadiums in 13 cities that could potentially host games for the tournament that is being co-organized with Turkey. But only one of the venues — Juventus’ Allianz Stadium in Turin — is ready.

The election inquiry revolves around whether Malagò was registered as a member of the soccer federation at the time of the vote.

“I’m not concerned. I could be wrong, but I don’t think so. I was elected and I had a consensus of votes,” Malagò said Thursday. “With those prerequisites, why should I be worried?”

UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin has warned Italian authorities of political interference in an interview with the Gazzetta dello Sport.

CONI will discuss the FIGC vote on Tuesday.

Malagò received 68.58% of the votes in the election, easily beating former federation president Giancarlo Abete, who received 29.17% and was the only other candidate.

The vote was to replace Gabriele Gravina, who resigned after four-time champion Italy failed to qualify for a third consecutive World Cup.

On Wednesday, Malagò ally Diana Bianchedi resigned as the national team’s delegation chief amid a spat with Sports Minister Andrea Abodi.

The 13 cities that Italy has submitted as possible hosts for Euro 2032 are: Bari, Bologna, Cagliari, Florence, Genoa, Lecce, Milan, Naples, Palermo, Rome, Salerno, Turin and Verona.

Two stadiums in Rome are included in the proposal: the Stadio Olimpico and a planned new Roma stadium.

Ideally, UEFA would select five stadiums in Italy and five in Turkey for the 24-team, 51-game tournament.

“I’ve been the flag bearer for major events for years,” said Malagò, who was previously president of the Italian Olympic Committee and the Milan Cortina Olympics organizing committee. “UEFA is looking at us very carefully. And our plan is an act of faith because as of today only one stadium would be ready to host the Euros while Turkey has well more than five.”

Of the five favorites, only Turin is ready. Inter and AC Milan are planning to tear down the San Siro and build a new stadium and three others need to be refurbished with major work: the Stadio Olimpico in Rome, the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples and the Stadio Renzo Barbera in Palermo.

City officials in Rome gave final approval this week to build Roma’s new stadium. But construction wouldn’t start until next year.

Italy had originally wanted to host the Euros on its own before asking Turkey to come aboard in a joint bid because of its lack of suitable stadiums.

In April, the government named Massimo Sessa as an extraordinary commissioner for stadiums.

See AP’s full soccer coverage here

Italy's Nicolo Cambiaghi, right, and Turkey's Oguz Aydin challenge for the ball during the UEFA Nations League soccer match between Turkey and Italy in Bursa, Turkey, Monday, Sept. 28, 2026. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)