Rising fuel costs, discontent with the state of schools, declining public services and a housing crisis have created perfectly stormy weather for an autumn of protests in Europe.
“And when specific situations come together, a spark suddenly ignites that is capable of channelling that discontent and driving people into the streets. Cities have turned into battlefields as several top EU economies, including France, Italy and Spain, approach pivotal elections, while far-right parties have made electoral gains in Germany and could do so elsewhere. It also comes as Europe faces a critical moment in its support for Ukraine, with President Donald Trump making overtures to President Vladimir Putin even as Russia is blamed for increasingly frequent hybrid attacks in NATO countries.
Young people “feel disappointed with the [social] model and experience a strong sense of uncertainty and a lack of control,” said María Silvestre, professor of sociology at the University of Deusto in Spain.
Some things have changed since the encampment began: public pressure led the ruling Socialist government to approve affordable housing measures, but a lack of support in Parliament meant they didn’t pass, triggering a snap election announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for November. Ending corruption is a major demand of the Albanian civic movement — named for the natural habitat of flamingos in an area where Mr. Rama’s government agreed to allow a major luxury tourism development linked to Jared Kushner, Mr. Trump’s son-in-law.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned Saturday’s (October 17, 2026) violence, accusing far-left activists of trying to foment chaos by attacking buildings and police. Macron said Sunday (October 18, 2026) in a rare televised address. A general strike will also take place in November — the first in 14 years. Inflation in Italy rose to 4.2 per cent in September, surpassing the eurozone’s 3.8%, according to government data. In Albania, anti-government protests continued Sunday (October 18, 2026) for a sixth consecutive day in Tirana, featuring more clashes between demonstrators and police.
“Those who looted will have to pay for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,” Mr. “Italia in Piazza,” or Italy in the Streets, has galvanized thousands of demonstrators, voicing demands for better employment, healthcare, education, and access to housing, as well as higher wages to deal with rising costs. The violence escalated after high school and university students joined the broad anti-government “Flamingo” movement calling for Socialist Prime Minister Edi Rama to resign. They also want protections for healthcare, education, and public pensions, according to its website.
