Protests in many European countries – for similar reasons

The violent protests in France have been dominating the headlines for days. Yet other European countries are also currently witnessing large-scale demonstrations and riots, with the reasons often being similar. Who is protesting in which countries at the moment – and why? France: Protests have been taking place across France for weeks. They began with school pupils taking to the streets and blocking schools to protest against a shortage of teachers and poor learning conditions. The protests have since come to include concerns about the high cost of living and criticism of the political leadership. In recent days, there have been massive violent riots in various cities. At the weekend, demonstrators set fire to, amongst other things, the town hall in Limoges, causing the building to collapse. Numerous people were injured in violent clashes between the police and demonstrators, including young people. There was looting. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has now announced the imposition of local curfews. Italy Protests and riots have also taken place in Italy in recent days. On Friday, thousands of students initially demonstrated in Rome against government policies. Over the weekend, protests – some of which turned violent – also took place in other northern Italian cities such as Milan, Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo and Turin, primarily in response to the high cost of living. In Milan in particular, demonstrators looted shops on Sunday and threw stones at police officers. According to police reports, more than 270 teenagers and young adults were arrested. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence and announced a cabinet meeting to address the situation. Belgium Riots broke out on Saturday during protests in Belgian cities. Student groups had called for the demonstrations, which were directed, amongst other things, against rising education costs and reforms that could make access to universities more difficult. The police deployed tear gas and water cannons. Belgium’s Home Secretary Bernard Quintin wrote on the platform X that all necessary measures would be taken to restore order. What was currently unfolding in Brussels, he said, was no longer merely a protest. The wave of protests dates back at least to early October. A major nationwide day of protest and strike took place on 9 October 2026, directed against the government’s austerity measures, budget cuts and reforms which, according to the trade unions, could place a particular burden on workers and those on low incomes. Portugal: In Lisbon, thousands of people protested at the weekend against the sharp rise in the cost of living and the housing crisis in Portugal. The rally had been organised by the country’s largest trade union. According to the union, tens of thousands were in the capital; the police did not provide any estimates. The demonstration had been preceded by days of growing unrest. A week ago, police in the city of Porto cleared a tent camp set up by housing activists. Spain: Spain is also experiencing an ongoing wave of protests, which began to gain momentum at the end of September when the flat of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid was forcibly evicted. Her case became a symbol of the subsequent demonstrations against high rents and the housing crisis, which reached their peak so far on 3 October with protests in more than 50 cities. The protests in Spain have already had concrete political consequences: after parliament rejected measures to protect tenants and prevent evictions in early October, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced snap general elections. The protests have now also spread to the education sector. Clashes with the police have broken out in Madrid during protests by striking teachers against the regional government’s education policy. Strikes and demonstrations have been announced for the coming days and weeks. Albania People in Albania, too, have been taking to the streets for days. The protests were initially directed against poor study conditions and high tuition fees; now, however, demonstrators are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government. On Saturday, the worst riots to date took place. Several buildings, including a court, banks and a post office, were set on fire or severely damaged. For the first time, the police used rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. Rama’s government is under immense pressure and has been repeatedly confronted with protests since the end of May. The protests were triggered by plans for a luxury hotel project in a nature reserve linked to US President Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, and her husband Jared Kushner, and which has been criticised for allegations of corruption and a lack of transparency.