Why Are People Protesting Across Europe?

Young people and workers in several European countries have been protesting in recent weeks. They are angry about problems like poor schools, rising housing costs, and the high price of everyday goods. Protests have taken place in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Albania. Some demonstrations have been peaceful, while others have turned violent.

In France, high school students have clashed with police over conditions in their schools. They say classes are too long, teachers are often absent, and many classrooms are in bad shape. Students also say the system for getting into university is unfair and hard to understand. Because so many teaching jobs go unfilled, students can miss months of school in a single year.

Other protesters in France have joined the students to speak out about the rising cost of living. Many people are upset about fuel prices, which went up after US military action effectively shut down a key shipping route called the Strait of Hormuz. A major workers' union called the General Confederation of Labour, or CGT, has supported the protests. The CGT is calling for lower prices, higher pensions, and better wages for workers. French President Emmanuel Macron is finishing his second and final term in office, which has added to the sense that big changes may be coming.

In Spain, protests broke out in September over the cost of housing. The demonstrations were sparked when an 87-year-old woman named Maricarmen Abascal was forced out of her home after an investment company raised her rent by 230%. Sadly, she passed away in the hospital just two weeks later. Protesters are demanding lower rents, a stop to evictions, and a law that would prevent investment funds from buying up homes.

Across the border in Portugal, hundreds of people gathered in the capital city of Lisbon on Saturday with similar demands. Housing prices in Portugal have jumped 124% since 2015 — about twice as fast as the average across the rest of the European Union. That means homes that used to be affordable are now out of reach for many families. Protesters say the government needs to step in and fix the crisis before things get worse.

In Italy, a march in the city of Milan also started peacefully but became violent by the end of the day. Some masked rioters threw stones and other objects at police and set fire to barricades built from bar furniture. While most protesters remain peaceful, the unrest shows that anger is spreading across the continent.

In Albania, protests against Prime Minister Edi Rama stretched into their sixth day on Sunday. Demonstrators say they are fed up with corruption, a shortage of jobs, and low standards in education. Albania is not part of the European Union, but the protests there reflect the same frustrations seen elsewhere. People across Europe are sending a clear message: they want leaders to listen and act.