In France, violence erupted in several cities on Saturday as protests over rising living costs and deteriorating public services spiraled out of control. The unrest was described in the source report as among the country’s worst in decades.
The French Interior Ministry estimated that around 550,000 people took part in demonstrations nationwide, while the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) put the figure at 800,000.
Groups of violent protesters attacked public buildings, looted luxury shops and supermarkets, and assaulted police officers. In Limoges, the city hall was set on fire. In Marseille, protesters stormed the town hall and painted anarchist symbols on the building, while in Lyon, demonstrators set fire to the city’s tourist office. Authorities said around 400 people had been arrested following the unrest.
President Emmanuel Macron pledged to prosecute and punish those responsible for the attacks. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the government would not be intimidated by violence, blaming far-left groups and criminals for the disorder.
In Italy, students took to the streets in several major cities on Friday and Saturday to protest education policies and conditions in schools. They called for greater investment in public education and improvements to the learning environment.
In Portugal, tens of thousands of people marched in Lisbon over soaring housing and living costs, which they said were outpacing income growth. Official figures cited in the source report showed that house prices had more than doubled since 2017, while rents for newly signed leases had nearly doubled. Inflation stood at 3.6% in September, driven mainly by rising food and fuel prices.
In Albania, employment, education quality and public administration have also become major public concerns. Gatherings in the capital, Tirana, were at times marked by tension, prompting the government to call for calm and the maintenance of public order.
These developments highlight the growing pressure on European governments to balance fiscal stability and public spending controls with people’s essential needs. Amid volatile energy prices and persistent economic difficulties, measures to support household living standards, improve public services and strengthen social welfare are expected to remain key policy priorities in the coming period.
