Ghannoushi said declining purchasing power, stagnant wages, rising prices, poverty and deteriorating public services were among the key drivers of the protests, which have spread across France.

She argued that Trump and Netanyahu had attempted to portray the demonstrations as evidence of an alleged Islamic threat, despite the absence of established links between the student movement and religious or identity-based demands.

According to Ghannoushi, such narratives divert attention from the underlying causes of the unrest and reinforce far-right political messaging ahead of France’s presidential election, expected in six months.

She also criticized French President Emmanuel Macron’s government for shifting blame onto political opponents and migrants rather than addressing France’s structural problems.

Ghannoushi concluded that France’s crisis extends beyond its domestic challenges, pointing to the country’s declining influence in Africa and increasingly strained relations with former colonies.

She warned that the crisis could deepen if the far right wins the next election.

Source: MEE