Thousands of people took to the streets of Europe over the weekend to protest against the rising cost of living, unaffordable housing prices, low wages and pressure on public services. Although the grievances varied from country to country, the demonstrations highlighted growing dissatisfaction with the financial situation of families.
In France, hundreds of thousands of people joined demonstrations, including students and other groups protesting the cost of living and public services. Many marched peacefully, but French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to hold accountable those who “tried to overthrow the Republic” after some rallies turned into looting and rioting in major cities, causing damage to about 1,500 shops and businesses.
The damage caused to businesses will amount to "several hundred million euros," said Alexandre Bompard, president of the Federation of Retail and Commerce, adding that it was still too early to give an exact figure.
The city hall of Limoges was engulfed in flames, as was the famous tourist office on Lyon's Place Bellecour. Vandals also broke into the town halls of Marseille, Lille and Angers, while in Bordeaux the prefect's residence was looted.
"Protest is a right and anger deserves to be heard. However, no disagreement or dissatisfaction can justify the destruction of public property," declared Guillaume Guérin, the mayor of Limoges, calling the violence "unacceptable."
In Belgium, police clashed with demonstrators in Brussels and Liege during protests against the cost of living. High school students have also protested in recent weeks against rising education costs, joining the concerns of students in France who have been protesting school conditions and teacher shortages.
Echoing the mayor of Limoges and other politicians, Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin declared on Saturday that the situation was "no longer just a protest," calling it "pure and genuine violence."
In Portugal, unions and housing rights organizations called for higher wages, better pensions, improved public services and measures to make housing more affordable. Organizers said rising rents, mortgage costs and daily expenses were putting increasing pressure on household budgets.
Italy was also gripped by demonstrations over economic conditions and rising prices. Clashes in Milan, Turin and Bologna left several injured, while dozens of people were arrested in Milan.
Why are Europeans angry?
Rising food, housing and energy prices have left many families struggling to meet their expenses on their incomes. Even when inflation slows, prices generally remain higher than before, leaving consumers with less room in their budgets.
Housing is a particular concern for renters and young people in many cities. Low-wage workers face pressure to pay for basic necessities, while concerns about education and other public services have added to discontent in some places.
Eurostat data shows that food and non-alcoholic beverage prices in the European Union increased by 34% between August 2021 and August 2026.
The amount of food that could be purchased with a monthly gross minimum wage fell by 6% in Malta, 5% in Spain and 4% in France, while it increased in most of the countries included in the analysis.
However, this comparison does not include taxes, rent and other household expenses and, therefore, does not fully reflect the overall cost of living pressure.
The protests do not represent a single European-wide movement and the demands of demonstrators vary from country to country. However, they highlight the pressure on household finances and the growing challenge of ensuring that wages rise at the same pace as the prices of basic goods and services. / Euronews
