French student movement rejects government offer to end protests

France’s student movement, which has taken to the streets for several weeks to protest a range of issues, has rejected a government package proposed to end the demonstrations.

According to Mehr News Agency, citing Reuters, the movement’s leaders said after meeting government officials that the package covered only part of the students’ demands and did not include all of their grievances. They stressed that they would continue holding demonstrations.

Meanwhile, the French government, which is facing heavy debt amounting to 120% of gross domestic product, is under broad financial constraints on new borrowing, making negotiations over next year’s budget more difficult.

In recent days, large-scale protests have continued in dozens of French cities, with no sign of easing, adding to the complexity of France’s political and economic situation.