France, Oct. 7 -- Lecornu is also expected to address soaring fuel prices, problems on French farms following last summer's drought and the country's financial situation with the cost of debt on the rise.

His move follows a day of protests in which an estimated 260,000 people took to the streets in France to highlight the poor state of school buildings, overcrowded classrooms and the lack of teachers.

"The Prime Minister will address the situation in secondary schools, fuel prices, the agricultural crisis and the country's financial situation," his office said on Wednesday.

Lecornu has called on students to return to the classrooms so that the issues can be discussed during a day he descibed as internal democracy.

French PM slams viol...