France student protests draw support from Jean-Luc Mélenchon

French far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has expressed support for high school student protesters currently driving a movement across France. During a campaign rally, Mélenchon advocated for lowering the voting age to 16 and ending selective university admissions.

In a broader political development, Raphaël Glucksmann has been chosen as the presidential candidate for France’s Socialist and allied voters following a primary election. This election process occurred amidst internal divisions within the mainstream left and reports of a cyberattack.

As President Emmanuel Macron nears the end of his second term and becomes ineligible for re-election, the upcoming presidential election is viewed as a critical turning point for France and the European Union.