Youth Anger Spills Across Europe as Protests Turn Violent

Frankfurt (GNP): Youth-led anger over living costs, housing and strained public services spilled onto the streets of Europe over the weekend, bringing looting in Frankfurt, clashes in French cities and police raids on protest camps in Portugal.

The unrest was sharpest in Germany, where the group Gen Z regelt organised demonstrations in 34 cities, including Berlin and Munich. The group says it opposes compulsory military service and wants greater investment in education, as many young Germans struggle with rising costs.

Tens of thousands marched, but the mood turned violent in Frankfurt late on Saturday night. Hooded rioters looted at least two stores in the financial hub and damaged several more, while police worked to bring the situation under control. In Hamburg, some barricades were set on fire.

German authorities said the demonstrations, which coincided with Halloween festivities, had been largely peaceful. They warned, however, that extremist groups were trying to exploit the movement. The federal interior ministry alleged that parts of the far-left extremist scene, along with some groups linked to foreign extremist movements, had joined efforts to mobilise support. Some businesses boarded up their windows and closed early, including along Berlin’s luxury Kurfuerstendamm shopping boulevard.

Housing, rather than military service, drove the anger in Portugal. Police moved into Lisbon’s Rossio Square before dawn on Sunday to clear a camp of more than 50 tents, set up after thousands marched on Saturday against a rental bill. After three warnings, dozens of officers, some with police dogs, dispersed hundreds of protesters using shields and some baton charges. A smaller camp in Porto was also dismantled.

Protesters want the minority centre-right government to scrap a bill that would make evictions easier and end rent caps on new leases. House prices in Portugal have more than doubled since 2017, and rents on new leases have nearly doubled, which has hit young people especially hard. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro has ruled out withdrawing the bill but said he is open to amendments before a final vote. Socialist Party leader Jose Luis Carneiro has urged talks with opposition parties and protesters.

France has seen the longest run of unrest. Scuffles broke out in Paris and other cities as nationwide marches ended on the third weekend of protests since the riots and looting of 17 October. Riot police charged small groups in Paris and fired tear gas in Lyon and Toulouse, while tensions in Marseille eased by nightfall. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said order had been maintained despite “a great deal of violence”.

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French police have also opened an attempted murder investigation after a petrol bomb was thrown at security forces during a protest in Paris. The prosecutor’s office said explosive devices were thrown at around fifteen gendarmes as well as police officers. No suspects have been arrested so far, and investigators are working to identify those responsible.

The French movement began in late September with students angered by run-down schools, overcrowded classrooms and a university admissions system they see as unfair. It has since drawn in trade unions and a resurgent Yellow Vest movement. Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon headed the Paris march, while far-right leader Marine Le Pen leads the polls ahead of April’s presidential election.

German officials are watching these events closely. Roman Poseck, interior minister for the state of Hesse, which includes Frankfurt, pointed to the images of looting, burning and attacks on police that have come out of France. Poseck said, “France must not be held up as a model in this regard.”