Hundreds of thousands demonstrated across Belgium, France, Italy and Portugal against rising living costs, with police using tear gas and water cannon in some clashes.
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01Summary
- 01Over 550,000 people joined protests in France on Saturday, one of the most turbulent days in decades.
- 02In Brussels, police fired tear gas and water cannon after protesters were accused of launching missiles and starting fires.
- 03Tens of thousands marched in Lisbon against the cost of living crisis, low wages and housing inaccessibility; house prices have more than doubled since 2017.
- 04Police in Milan and Bologna reported protesters throwing stones and clashing with officers alongside peaceful rallies.
- 05HEC Paris professor Alberto Alemanno said protests may spread to Greece, Germany and Austria in the coming weeks.
02Why it matters
These coordinated protests, coinciding with an upcoming 'super-cycle' of national elections across Europe, signal a wave of public discontent that will dominate political conversation in multiple EU countries.
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