France : back to school and politics

This week, pupils have returned to school after a particularly trying summer, marked by heatwaves and wildfires. As is the case every year, the start of the new school year brings with it its share of controversies: a lack of resources, reforms to certain curricula and exams, but also the enforcement of the ban on mobile phones in secondary schools.

This start to the academic year is more political than ever, with the 2027 presidential election fast approaching. The numerous candidates – whether officially declared or not – are seizing this key moment to make their moves in a campaign that promises to be as tense as it is gruelling: the prospect of a head-to-head contest between Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s radical left and Marine Le Pen’s far right is taking shape, but the polls are unanimous at this stage and show the National Rally candidate as the favourite, despite her conviction.