Hundreds of thousands protest rising living costs in France

Saturday demonstrations and the cost of living

The French interior ministry reported 320,000 people across the country on Saturday, but student unions claimed the figure reached half a million people, including 200,000 demonstrators who gathered in Paris. These protests against rising living costs and deteriorating school conditions occurred in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille for a third consecutive Saturday. France deployed 70,000 police officers to contain the crowds. Although authorities described the situation nationwide as "generally calm" in the early afternoon, tensions and clashes emerged in Marseille, Paris, and Lyon as the marches dispersed. I find the threat of €150 fines for face coverings particularly aggressive since many protesters wore Halloween costumes. Minister Laurent Nunez warned that face coverings could result in fines of €150. Arrests remained significantly lower than during previous demonstrations. This unrest occurs with six months to go until the presidential election. I note that the turnout for these protests remains massive, as hundreds of thousands of people gathered to march.

Youth movements in Germany and Italy

The protests spread to Germany and Italy as youth-led movements targeted rising living costs and, in Germany, military spending. In Germany, the "Gen Z regelt" (Gen Z gets things done) initiative ignited protests in over 30 cities. Police cancelled a planned march in Cologne after some participants wore face coverings and set off smoke bombs. Other German cities such as Berlin and Frankfurt also experienced these youth-led protests. In Italy, the police carried out 60 searches across 23 cities targeting people suspected of inciting violence during mass demonstrations on Friday, according to news agency ANSA. Rome and Milan also saw these demonstrations. I find the Italian police’s execution of 60 searches across 23 cities to be a heavy-handed response to the mass demonstrations on Friday.