French school protests expected to grow on ‘day of mobilisation’ – Europe live
Large-scale protests are expected across France today, as high school student groups and trade unions take part in a “day of mobilisation” as they continue demonstrations against what they say are dilapidated and understaffed schools.
After a week of student protests, thousands of trade unionists, teachers, public sector workers and parents’ groups are expected to join marches of support in cities and towns across France.
The main protest, in Paris, is set to get under way in the early afternoon.
On Tuesday, teaching was disrupted at nearly 600 out of 3,700 lycees and 32 universities, according to preliminary data. Over 5,000 people have been arrested since the start of the protest last week.
Demonstrations have escalated in recent days, with growing blockades and violent clashes with police – as campaigners accuse officers of a heavy-handed response to the protests.
Elsewhere, I will keep an eye on Germany, where the state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt is set to elect its speaker today, expected to be from the far-right Alternative für Deutschland.
Two cargo ships were struck by drones in Bulgaria’s economic zone in the Black Sea. Any details on potential casualties are not available as search and rescue operations continue, local media reported.
There are also some other stories in Greece, Lithuania, Romania, and elsewhere, so we will no doubt be busy… I will bring you all the latest from across Europe here.
It’s Tuesday, 6 October 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
Good morning.
Key events
French PM calls for peaceful protests on 'day of mobilisation' for high school reforms
Two merchant ships hit by drone in Bulgaria's Black Sea - reports
Saxony-Anhalt parliament expected to choose AfD speaker in postwar first
Morning opening: French high school protests expected to grow on 'day of mobilisation'
Meanwhile in France, prime minister Sébastien Lecornu has called for “peaceful gatherings” on the day of mobilisation, as he ordered his ministers to look into meeting the students’ leading demands, Reuters and AFP reported.
Those include ensuring absent teachers are replaced, reviewing the length of the 8am to 6pm school day and the need for longer lunch breaks.
The government would also look at repairs needed to ageing school buildings, said Lecornu, who demanded ministers send in their first proposals by the end of October. But finding spare cash will likely be difficult.
French education minister Édouard Geffray told broadcaster France Info that he was focused on responding to the demands, but warned that the student movement was “infiltrated” by “ultra-violent elements,” causing unnecessary violence.
Over in Bulgaria, I am following the emergency response to an incident in the Black Sea with two ships have reportedly been hit by drones of unknown origin in the country’s economic zone.
Two merchant ships have been affected in an incident off the coast. At least 18 people were evacuated from one of the ships, local media reported, with growing fears about the crew of the other vessel.
The specialist site Maritime.bg provisionally named both ships, which it said operated under the flags of Togo and Palau.
Bulgarian caretaker prime minister Rumen Radev will shortly chair an emergency meeting this morning, which could give us a bit more detail on what happened. I will keep an eye on his comments.
Bulgarian president Iliyana Yotova is also changing her schedule as a result of the incident.
In Germany, newly elected state lawmakers in Saxony-Anhalt will gather for the first time in the parliament building in the state capital Magdeburg to elect a speaker, with the AfD’s candidate Tobias Rausch expected to win.
It would be the first time a far-right party has held such a position in postwar German history, AFP noted.
The meeting is expected to get in just over an hour.
Several activist groups have called for protests outside the building to urge other parties not to co-operate with the AfD, which in Saxony-Anhalt is classified as a “confirmed extremist” organisation by domestic intelligence.
The AfD’s leader in Saxony Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, has said he hopes to be elected as state premier by December, which would be another first for the party, AFP said.
Large-scale protests are expected across France today, as high school student groups and trade unions take part in a “day of mobilisation” as they continue demonstrations against what they say are dilapidated and understaffed schools.
After a week of student protests, thousands of trade unionists, teachers, public sector workers and parents’ groups are expected to join marches of support in cities and towns across France.
The main protest, in Paris, is set to get under way in the early afternoon.
On Tuesday, teaching was disrupted at nearly 600 out of 3,700 lycees and 32 universities, according to preliminary data. Over 5,000 people have been arrested since the start of the protest last week.
Demonstrations have escalated in recent days, with growing blockades and violent clashes with police – as campaigners accuse officers of a heavy-handed response to the protests.
Elsewhere, I will keep an eye on Germany, where the state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt is set to elect its speaker today, expected to be from the far-right Alternative für Deutschland.
Two cargo ships were struck by drones in Bulgaria’s economic zone in the Black Sea. Any details on potential casualties are not available as search and rescue operations continue, local media reported.
There are also some other stories in Greece, Lithuania, Romania, and elsewhere, so we will no doubt be busy… I will bring you all the latest from across Europe here.
It’s Tuesday, 6 October 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.
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