Cost of Living Protests in Europe Spread to 7 Countries
Protests that began with student demonstrations in France have spread to seven European countries, turning into a social reaction against the cost of living and housing crisis.
Demonstrations initiated by high school students in France quickly spread to Italy, Portugal, Spain, Albania, Belgium, and Greece, evolving into a widespread wave of social protest.
Protests initiated by high school students in France over overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages quickly spread across the country and subsequently to seven different nations. Tens of thousands of young people in Italy, Portugal, Spain, Albania, Belgium, and Greece took to the streets against rising living costs, the housing crisis, and disruptions in public services. Participants in the demonstrations state that their expectations of having better living conditions than their parents have weakened.
The protests target the administrations of Emmanuel Macron in France, Luis Montenegro in Portugal, Giorgia Meloni in Italy, and Pedro Sanchez in Spain. According to Eurostat data, the costs of food, energy, and transportation in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal have increased by 59 to 78 percent since 2000. According to OECD data, real wages in Italy declined by 5 percent between 2000 and 2025, while limited increases were recorded in Spain, France, and Portugal.
Sources
- cumhuriyet.com.tr · Link