Protests over rising living costs and housing have spread across Europe, drawing hundreds of thousands of people in separate, uncoordinated demonstrations on Saturday. France saw the largest and most violent unrest, and on Monday it imposed partial curfews.
Key Highlights
- Protests hit France, Italy, Belgium and Portugal on Saturday, October 17, according to Al Jazeera, which cited AFP, AP and Reuters.
- France’s Interior Ministry said more than 550,000 people joined protests there.
- Authorities reported about 2,400 arrests in France over the weekend, Euronews said.
- Analysts say they are separate protests with shared grievances, not a single movement.
France: From Marches to Riots
Al Jazeera reported that the French marches, which followed weeks of student protests, turned into clashes, looting and fires after violent fringe groups targeted public buildings, luxury boutiques and supermarkets. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 1,200 people were arrested and 150 police officers were hurt on Saturday.
A fire set by masked protesters largely destroyed the 140-year-old town hall in Limoges, Al Jazeera said. CNN reported at least two deaths and serious injuries, including two people who lost their hands. Casualty figures may change as authorities complete their counts.
Lecornu asked regional authorities on Monday to impose “partial” and “localized” curfews. Euronews reported that limits would run from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. in four northern cities, including Lille. Foreign Policy added that Paris announced a partial ban on protests.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered to resign after admitting police were unprepared. President Emmanuel Macron declined, Foreign Policy said.
Italy, Belgium and Portugal
In Milan, a march against wars and rising living costs began peacefully, but masked protesters later threw stones at police and set fires, Al Jazeera reported. LaPresse said about 50 people were detained, many of them minors, and at least two officers were injured. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote that demonstrating is a right, but “setting our cities ablaze is not.”
In Brussels, police used tear gas and water cannon after weeks of student protests over university registration fees. In Lisbon, tens of thousands marched over low wages, rising rents and housing access. Al Jazeera reported that Portuguese house prices have more than doubled since 2017.
Watch: Clashes in Paris
A video report shows scenes from the October 17 protests in France:
What Is Driving the Anger
Euronews described rising food, housing and energy costs as leaving many households struggling to stretch their incomes. Macron said protesters were voicing concern about the cost of living and fuel prices, which he linked to the conflict in the Persian Gulf, according to The Tribune, citing France 24. For a U.S. comparison, see our report on U.S. inflation and the cost of living.
Will It Spread?
Alberto Alemanno, a professor at HEC Paris, told Al Jazeera that France is the epicenter and that “early stages” of a movement are emerging in Greece, Germany and Austria, with mobilization expected in the coming week. He said the protests share grievances over underfunded education, living costs and uncertain graduate prospects. His comments are an expert assessment, not a confirmed forecast.
Politics is also in play. Al Jazeera noted elections are due in Spain, France, Italy and Poland in the next 12 months. In France, National Rally has accused France Unbowed of stoking unrest, while its leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon blamed Macron’s government, Foreign Policy reported.
What Remains Uncertain
Arrest and casualty numbers differ by source and by day. It is not clear how long the curfews will last, whether other countries will see similar violence, or how governments will respond to the underlying anger.
What to Watch Next
- Whether new protests emerge in Greece, Germany and Austria.
- Whether France’s curfews and protest limits calm the situation.
- Any policy response on wages, housing and fuel prices.
Sources: Al Jazeera (citing AFP, AP and Reuters), Euronews, CNN, Foreign Policy, The Tribune. This article will be updated as more information is confirmed.