"A Planned Political Maneuver": Is the Far-Left Party Behind the Riots in France?

A police report leaked to Le Figaro attributes the high school riots in France to a planned political maneuver by Jean-Luc Mélenchon's radical left party, La France Insoumise (LFI). The riots, now in their fourth day, have caused destruction in over 100 high schools, affected approximately 1,200 institutions, and forced the closure of 400 schools. Republican candidate Bruno Retailleau has called for LFI to be outlawed.

An internal police intelligence report leaked to the newspaper Le Figaro asserts that the wave of student riots in France is a planned political maneuver by the radical left party La France Insoumise (LFI), led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, aimed at destabilizing the republic ahead of the 2027 elections. The riots, now in their fourth day, have caused unprecedented and targeted destruction of schools, police and fire vehicles, as well as looting of shops. French Education Minister Édouard Geffray reported significant damage to over 100 high schools, with the riots affecting approximately 1,200 educational institutions and forcing 400 schools to close or switch to remote learning. In cities such as Nantes, Rouen, and Lille, protesters set fire to school entrances, burned vehicles, and erected burning barricades. In Nantes, the entrance hall of the Nelson Mandela High School was destroyed, and teaching staff evacuated 160 students under fire. Republican presidential candidate and former Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau called for LFI to be outlawed, claiming it incites insurrection. The leak of the document has sparked political uproar and demands to examine the party's outlawing.