France's decisive days: student protests and national mobilization

France faces two decisive days of protest this week, with student demonstrations on Thursday and a broader national mobilization on Saturday, following violent clashes on October 17 that prompted Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to promise a "massive" police response. The unrest began with students demanding better school conditions, including more teachers, improved facilities, and changes to the Parcoursup university admissions platform, but has expanded to broader concerns over purchasing power and public services. The government has announced priority areas for intervention, with initial decisions promised by late October, though protesters deem these insufficient. Authorities are revising their security strategy after admitting the previous police deployment was too static, while facing scrutiny over alleged police violence. The crisis's political and economic consequences will depend on whether protests remain peaceful, with the education budget debate in November serving as a key upcoming test.