They subside on certain days, only to flare up a few days later. Largely led by young people, demonstrations have swept across at least eight European countries, driven by grievances ranging from school conditions and the cost of diesel to a deeper sense of insecurity about the future – and the feeling that opportunities are increasingly out of reach. That’s why they are so critical.” For governments, addressing discontent is proving difficult.
Experts say there is no easy fix, and that many have so far struggled to offer answers beyond a show of force. The protests are likely to continue, they warn. They dominate the headlines and risk undermining legitimate claims.” Rallies continue because they are increasingly about more than individual grievances, said Donatella della Porta, a political science professor at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Florence.
While governments have tried to address some of the protesters’ material demands, they have failed to grasp the broader political concerns driving the demonstrations. There are also fundamental issues, including military spending, governments’ alliance with [United States President Donald] Trump, the rising cost of gasoline and the war in Iran,” she said. In Germany, metal and electrical workers have gone on strike while students have demonstrated over fears of the return of conscription.
In Belgium, firefighters marched through Brussels, demanding more staff and better equipment. And on Friday in Italy, the USB union brought tens of thousands of people together, calling for a reduction in military spending. France’s Education Minister Edouard Geffray said on Monday that some measures to meet students’ demands have been adopted, including capping class sizes to 28 for the first year of high school, creating 10,000 places in higher technician programmes, and transforming Parcoursup.
Other measures require in-depth work between now and the end of December, he said on X. But the announcements have failed to quell the protests. On Tuesday, dozens of schools remained blockaded and several universities were disrupted, according to French media.
A nationwide strike over wages, the cost of living and public services is also expected on November 5. In Spain, massive protests swept through the country for weeks over a housing crisis, triggered by the eviction and subsequent death of an 87-year-old pensioner from her lifelong home. On Tuesday, police dismantled a sprawling tent camp in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square.
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