For decades France presented itself as one of the world's loudest defenders of democracy, human rights and the right to protest. From Africa to the Middle East, from the Balkans to other parts of Europe, Paris often sent messages to other governments: listen to your citizens, respect the demonstrators and do not use excessive force.

Young people asked for better conditions in education and for institutions to hear their problems. The first major reactions came from pupils and school communities unhappy with the shortage of teachers, lost classes, overcrowded classrooms and the different conditions for education between the richer and poorer parts of France.

Some of the demonstrators began responding to police interventions with resistance. Barricades appeared, objects were thrown, bins were set on fire and property destroyed. The police responded with additional force and arrests.

When the young people first took to the streets, the institutions had the chance to invite them to talks, hear their demands and publicly offer concrete solutions. Back then the protests could still have moved from the streets back into the classrooms and the negotiating rooms.

The authorities allowed discontent from the schools to grow into a national crisis, there is no dialogue, and political responsibility and resignations are entirely legitimate.

The facts show how far the crisis has gone. The protests have spread to more than 1,200 high schools, and since Monday more than 5,000 people have been detained, mostly teenagers. At the same time, hundreds of members of the security services have been injured, and some of the protests have turned into serious violence.

The authorities have the right and the obligation to prevent arson, the destruction of property and attacks on police officers, teachers or other citizens.

France should not only be discussing how to stop the protests, but also who bears the political responsibility for the crisis getting this far.

In a democracy, a resignation is not an admission that the state has capitulated to the street. It can be a way for politicians to take responsibility for their own decisions and failures.

If nobody takes political responsibility for a crisis like this - then what does anyone ever resign for in a democracy?