On the eve of what has been called a "third act" in a long-running youth-led movement, two political figures—Dominique de Villepin and François Ruffin—met in a Parisian brasserie to discuss issues with high school students and representatives from youth organizations. The two, both candidates in the upcoming presidential election, joined the students in rejecting several common proposals and instead called for "political responses" to address the mobilizations, rather than relying on law enforcement actions. This meeting took place as the movement enters a new phase, with the participants emphasizing the need for dialogue and reform. During a press conference, François Ruffin said, "Our personalities, with their differences, can have a utility. The gathering must prevail over the division," while Dominique de Villepin emphasized that "the youth is above everything that can divide us." In a joint statement, they criticized the government's approach to handling the mobilizations, particularly after a 15-year-old student suffered a severe injury when a police grenade tore off his hand in Lens earlier in the week. De Villepin, a former right-wing prime minister, argued that the government’s focus on maintaining order must consider the unique context of the high school movement, calling out the use of police "charges" and "trapping policies." The two candidates are pushing for an end to the use of LBD (Lanceur de Balle de Défense) and encirclement grenades during protests. "There should not be a police response, there should be a political response," Ruffin said, adding that he supports safeguarding the national education budget, even as student numbers decline. Ruffin, a left-wing deputy from Somme, also called for an urgent renovation of school buildings, expressing frustration over the "deterioration" of classrooms. He noted that this demand has been raised repeatedly in recent days. Both candidates are also advocating for the right to vote at age 16 and the abolition of Parcoursup, a college admissions platform that uses an algorithm to rank students. "The future cannot be managed by an algorithm," Ruffin said, emphasizing the need to support vocational education alongside traditional academic paths. Their proposals reflect a broader push to address the concerns of young people and reform the education system in response to the ongoing movement.