Europe Sees Mass Protests Over Rising Living Costs as France, Germany Face Sporadic Violence

French authorities expressed relief on Sunday after demonstrations over rising living costs were marked by less violence than previous weekends. However, police are preparing for fresh unrest as high schools, which have become a focal point of the protest movement, reopen on Monday following the autumn break.

Germany also faced disturbances after nationwide demonstrations on Saturday escalated into violence in several cities, with rioters attacking police officers and looting shops.

Across Europe, hundreds of thousands of people, many inspired by youth-led movements, took part in largely peaceful demonstrations demanding action on rising living costs, housing, education and other economic concerns.

France Reports Fewer Arrests After Weekend Protests

In Paris, violence erupted towards the end of Saturday’s march on the eastern outskirts of the city. Police said rioters threw Molotov cocktails at officers, injuring three and setting a car on fire.

Elsewhere, masked groups launched fireworks at police near a viewpoint opposite the Eiffel Tower. Officers repeatedly charged at the crowd, prompting frightened visitors to flee.

Despite these incidents, the overall violence was significantly lower than during previous weekends. On October 17, rioters set fire to a city hall and looted more than 2,000 shops. Further demonstrations on October 24 also resulted in widespread unrest.

Police arrested 779 people nationwide on Saturday, compared with 2,628 on October 17 and 1,314 the following weekend. Authorities in Paris and Marseille reported limited damage to shops, with no major destruction.

Around 70,000 police officers were deployed across France to maintain order.

Protesters told The Associated Press that their grievances included poor classroom conditions, low wages and the rising cost of fuel.

Authorities are particularly concerned about the reopening of schools on Monday, with some groups calling for blockades. France is also preparing for a nationwide general strike on Thursday, involving railway workers, public-sector employees, students and trade unions demanding higher wages and improved living conditions.

President Emmanuel Macron’s government is focusing on Thursday’s planned demonstrations while negotiating with trade unions, hoping that street violence will subside.

An official close to the president described Saturday’s demonstrations as a return to republican order but acknowledged that the situation remained imperfect.

Germany Faces Violence After Youth-Led Demonstrations

Germany witnessed demonstrations involving more than 100,000 mostly young people on Saturday. Protesters called for greater government investment in education, affordable housing and climate protection, alongside measures to ease the cost of living.

However, some demonstrations turned violent later in the evening.

In Frankfurt, rioters attacked police officers and looted shops following a protest. More than 100 police officers were injured, while 54 people aged between 13 and 29 were detained.

Police reported damage to 17 shops, five of which were looted. The situation returned to calm by early Sunday after officers cordoned off parts of the city centre.

Hesse Governor Boris Rhein condemned the violence, saying those responsible would face consequences.

Violence was also reported in Cologne, where police deployed water cannons to disperse crowds. In Berlin, demonstrators attacked officers with bottles and pyrotechnics.

The youth initiative behind the demonstrations, known as Gen Z regelt, distanced itself from the violence in a statement posted on Instagram, rejecting any involvement in violent acts committed by other groups or individuals.

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt accused violent left-wing groups and troublemakers from immigrant communities of exploiting the demonstrations.

He said those involved in rioting and looting would be identified and held accountable.

Housing Crisis Fuels Protests in Portugal

In Portugal, demonstrations over rising living costs, particularly housing affordability, continued in Lisbon.

Thousands of people marched through the capital on Saturday, while several hundred protesters later established a camp in Rossio, a historic central square.

Police intervened early Sunday, forcibly removing demonstrators, dismantling tents and detaining several people.

The protests in Portugal have been continuing for weeks, inspired partly by a similar movement in neighbouring Spain. Demonstrators are demanding action on soaring housing costs and the broader affordability crisis.

Across France, Germany and Portugal, the demonstrations reflect growing public frustration over the cost of everyday life, with young people playing a prominent role in calls for economic and social reforms.