Cost-of-living and student protests spread from France across several EU states amid high inflation
Protests that started in France over deteriorating school conditions, teacher shortages and an education system under strain have widened into a broader European wave of discontent over the rising cost of living, unaffordable housing and struggling public services. The unrest has moved beyond France to demonstrations in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal. Many marches have stayed peaceful, but some have turned violent, with clashes, looting and destruction. Police and other authorities have drawn criticism for excessive use of force and mass arrests.
The unrest is unfolding against mounting economic pressure. France, the European Union’s second-largest economy, is dealing with sluggish growth and rising public debt, which is projected to reach 120 percent of GDP by 2027. Inflation across both the EU and the eurozone hit 3.8 percent in September, up from 2.1 percent in 2024. The pattern has raised the question of whether Europe is facing a wider crisis of public discontent and whether this could become a tipping point for governments already struggling to keep public trust.
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