Why There Are Protests in France and What Macron’s Talks Changed

School grievances fuel wider anger

The demonstrations began with complaints about worsening conditions in schools. They have since spread across France as wider frustration over rising living costs and strained public services added to the unrest.

The situation followed looting at shops across the country the previous weekend. Ahead of Saturday’s protests, some luxury stores boarded up windows and brought in additional guards.

Macron meets student representatives

Macron met with high school unions in what was described as an 11th-hour effort to calm tensions before the weekend. Further talks with the prime minister were expected on Monday. Nathanael Combary, president of the campaign group High School Renewal, said the students were “not satisfied.” He urged pupils to maintain a “standoff” with the government.

Businesses and transport prepare

Some shopkeepers armed themselves with baseball bats, crowbars and shotguns to protect their businesses. Some of the country’s leading tourist attractions and metro stations also closed ahead of the demonstrations. Paris transport authority RATP confirmed that several metro stations in the city had shut because of Saturday’s protests, according to the BBC.