The wave of protests initiated by students in France is spreading across Europe. Since late September, high school students in France have been organizing demonstrations to protest against teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, housing issues, inadequate educational resources, and poorly maintained school buildings. The movement quickly spread from the Paris region to cities such as Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Nantes, Montpellier, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Rennes. Teachers, unions, parents, and university students have also supported the students' demands. On October 6, approximately 250,000 people participated in demonstrations nationwide, while the French Ministry of Interior reported 161,500 participants on October 13. Unions, however, announced the number of participants as 480,000 on the same day. During the demonstrations on October 17, between 550,000 and 800,000 people participated in marches across the country. Clashes between police and protesters occurred in some of the demonstrations held in cities like Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Limoges. Authorities reported that approximately 400 people were detained. Initially focused on educational conditions, the protests have expanded over time to include reactions against the cost of living, wages, pensions, public services, and the government's budget policies.
Corruption Allegations and Unemployment Fuel Reactions
In Albania, anti-government protests centered in the capital, Tirana, entered their sixth day as of October 18. Led by students, the demonstrations have highlighted allegations of corruption, unemployment, and problems within the education system. Protesters demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama gathered in front of government buildings. In some actions, public buildings and banks were targeted, and windows of businesses were broken. Police used tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets in clashes with protesters. Thousands of people gathered in front of the Ministry of Education in the capital during the demonstrations. Police reported that charges were filed against 388 people in connection with the events. The background of the tension in Albania also includes luxury construction projects in coastal areas that sparked controversy in previous months. Reactions to a luxury real estate project linked to Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of US President Donald Trump, formed one of the earlier stages of the protest environment in the country. Prime Minister Rama rejected calls for his resignation in a statement on October 18. He argued that the protests threaten Albania's goal of European Union membership more than his government. While the country has a target for EU membership by 2030, the government continues to defend the steps it has taken to combat corruption.
Reaction to Education Reforms and Austerity Policies
In Belgium, demonstrations involving students, teachers, union representatives, and other groups protested education reforms, austerity policies, public services, and police interventions. In Brussels, about 100 students and adults gathered near the Central Station in the morning. Protesters later moved toward the Midi Station area. After some protesters set up barriers and threw various objects at the police, security forces intervened with tear gas and water cannons. In Liege, a march attended by approximately 250 people brought issues such as education funding, tuition fees, public transport costs, working conditions, and social inequality to the agenda. Workers and parents also supported the actions. Protesters argued that rising education and living costs force young people to work while studying, which can lead some students to drop out. Some of the actions in Belgium included messages of solidarity with the protests in France. However, the main demands of the demonstrations also include objections to the country's own education and public spending policies.
Students Protest Government Education Policies
In Italy, students held demonstrations on October 16 in various cities, primarily Milan, Rome, and Turin. In the actions held under the name "No Meloni Day," the education policies of the government led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, resources allocated to public education, rising living costs, and military spending were protested. Students expressed their demands through methods such as occupying schools, boycotting classes, and organizing marches and meetings. In the demonstrations in Milan, students demanded more resources for public schools. The demand for the withdrawal of a regulation issued by the government in September, which reportedly limits the ratio of foreign-origin students in a classroom to 30 percent, also came to the fore. In Turin, it was reported that buildings were damaged, windows were broken, and fire extinguishers were used during occupations in some schools before the protests. It was reported that a teacher, a school employee, and a gendarme were injured in the incidents. A young person was also detained on suspicion of resisting law enforcement. Turin Mayor Stefano Lo Russo stated that students' right to demonstrate should be protected, but described the damage to public property as unacceptable. Minister of Education Giuseppe Valditara also announced that compensation would be demanded from those responsible for the damage.
Housing Crisis and Low Wages Take to the Streets
In Portugal, demonstrations against the cost of living and the housing crisis were held in different cities, especially in Lisbon, Porto, and Coimbra. However, unlike student movements in some other countries, the actions in this country were mainly organized by unions and housing rights advocates. It was reported that tens of thousands of people participated in the Lisbon march organized at the call of the CGTP, Portugal's largest trade union confederation. The union demanded wage increases, improvements in pensions, and the protection of public services. Protesters argued that wages are lagging behind the increase in the cost of living while opposing the rise in housing prices and rents. Fuel prices and basic living expenses were also among the main issues raised in the actions. The march in Lisbon took place on one of the main streets in the center of the country. In Porto, the actions of housing rights advocates, which have been continuing for days, drew attention. A tent camp set up in the city to draw attention to the housing crisis was removed by the police at the beginning of the week.
