Mélenchon declares ‘Bastille retaken’ after major student rally in Paris

The mass student-led movement emerged over a range of issues including long school days, overcrowded schools, teacher absences. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the hard left France Unbowed party took to X on Thursday to declare "the Bastille has been retaken", after students staged major demonstrations across the country — including a mass rally at Paris' infamous Place de la Bastille. Thursday's protests were part of the mass student-led movement which has been ongoing since 17 September. It emerged over a range of issues including long school days, overcrowded schools and teacher absences. The mass gathering which took place at the place de la Bastille began peacefully, but later led to clashes with the police, as tear gas and a water cannon were fired at protesters. Meanwhile, Mélenchon wrote "powerful demonstration by the youth who carry their demands in the most beautiful way possible! Immense pride. See you on Tuesday, October 13, at the call of the youth unions and workers." The storming of the Bastille in 1789 marked a major turning point in the French Revolution and became a symbol of the people’s resistance to royal authority. Mélenchon's party and his allies have been accused of stoking and manipulating young people for political gain by their opponents. Meanwhile, he has stated that while his party supports the movement, it did not create it and supports peaceful protests. Police have made more than 6,600 arrests since late September, when students, most of them under 18, began protesting to demand more education funding, according to the Interior Ministry. The Education Ministry said 375 schools were fully or partially closed Thursday.