The government led by Sebastien Lecornu is managing student protests that have spread from high schools in the Paris region to some universities, with some incidents involving violence. The protests, which saw a decline on Monday, are occurring against the backdrop of a presidential campaign and amid concerns over rising fuel prices and the 2027 budget project. The movement, described as a "catch-all movement that feeds on a sense of anxiety about the future," lacks an identified spokesperson or clear demands, according to Valérie Pécresse, president of the Ile-de-France region and head of the LR party. The government is trying to balance restoring public order with listening to student demands without inciting further unrest. A high school student suffered a severe injury when a grenade was thrown in Lens, Pas-de-Calais, highlighting the escalation of violence. Officials have expressed hesitation on how to respond, between addressing demands and repressing violent actions. One official noted that giving the high school organizations a "label" could legitimize their demands, while another official suggested that the minister of National Education, Edouard Geffray, is not the dominant figure in the policy. The presidential campaign has complicated the situation, with Lecornu condemning an "irresponsible overreach" by LFI officials calling for expanding the blockages. This was followed by a back-and-forth with presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who accused Lecornu of having "ordered repression" with an "obvious racist undertone." Accusations of exacerbating the situation have become reciprocal, with right and far-right parties accusing LFI of fanning the flames, while the CGT described the government as "pyromaniac" after it proposed introducing fees for BTS and preparatory classes, a proposal that was later withdrawn. With Mélenchon given a spot in the second round, there are "people trying to blow up" his status as a potential final candidate, according to a central bloc official. Marine Le Pen is "taking the heat" in response to images of disorder in the streets. Officials are cautious with their words, as every part of their sentence carries weight. Pécresse emphasized the need for caution with critical comments from LFI mayor Bally Bagayoko, who had stated that violence "can be legitimate" while judging that it should be avoided. The minister of Higher Education, Philippe Baptiste, faced criticism for stating he "feared" a wider escalation, with a source within the executive warning against drawing chaos that is not there. The crisis coincides with a challenging end of the five-year term for Emmanuel Macron, with cabinets lacking "political reflexes," according to a Renaissance deputy. The tone has since been lowered, with Mélenchon calling on parents and activists to "intervene" between the youth and the police and inviting them to wear "a white armband" during the demonstrations. On the executive side, emphasis is placed on the "ethics" of law enforcement, and ministers are tasked with five projects to respond to the demands of students. The minister in charge of Relations with Parliament, Laurent Panifous, called on Monday to first listen to the youth, stating that "the essential thing is the message carried by the students themselves," who do not yet have the right to vote and do not have "other means of expressing themselves."