The key facts

  • Mathieu Kassovitz called on Macron to apologize and begin a dialogue in the last six months of his presidential term
  • The director demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Lecornu and Interior Minister Nuñez
  • The protests began in September with demands from schoolchildren; in October more than half a million people took to the streets

A call for apology and dialogue

French director, actor and screenwriter Mathieu Kassovitz called on President Emmanuel Macron to apologize to participants of the protest actions for the situation that has developed in the country. He said this in an interview with The Times, which was cited by Gazeta.Ru. According to Kassovitz, Macron «must spend the last six months of his presidential term with dignity and begin a dialogue, so that the next president can have some foundation for further work».

Demands on the government

Kassovitz also called for the resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. He linked the beginning of the protest wave to the demands of schoolchildren, which he considered fair, who asked for improvements in learning conditions.

Scale of the protests

The protests began in September with rallies by students and high schoolers from Parisian suburbs demanding better learning conditions. By mid-October, according to the publication, more than half a million people took to the streets — activists, young people, trade unions and workers' movements; the protesters also spoke out against rising fuel prices. Kassovitz himself is known for the films «La Haine» (1995) with Vincent Cassel, «The Crimson Rivers» (2000) with Jean Reno, and «Gothika» with Halle Berry and Robert Downey Jr. — in total, he has directed more than ten films.