Protestsupdated 32m ago2 min read
Fuel Prices Spark Protests Across Europe, Including France, Italy, and Albania
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Rising fuel prices trigger protests across Europe, including France, Italy, Albania. Far-right parties gain political capital ahead of elections due to protests.
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Fuel prices spark unrest
Fuel prices and the cost of living sparked protests across Europe, with demonstrations in France, Italy and Albania escalating into clashes, arrests and property damage. French high school students organized demonstrations and blockades for more than three weeks, demanding additional funding and resources for schools they said were understaffed and deteriorating, particularly in disadvantaged areas. The unrest spread as the CGT labour union and other activists joined the campaign, bringing broader concerns about living expenses and declining public services into the protests.
President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged protesters’ “legitimate demands” over living costs and fuel prices, while condemning those responsible for violence and looting. In Limoges, a fire engulfed the 19th-century city hall, nearly destroying the historic building, and several schools were also set ablaze.
Macron draws a line
Macron condemned the violence, accusing far-left activists of attempting to destabilise the country by attacking public buildings and police officers.
In a televised address on Sunday, Macron said those responsible for looting would have to compensate for the damage, while those attempting to undermine the republic would face accountability.
Quentin Leviloux, a 21-year-old protester in Nantes, said, “Why am I here? Well, simply, I think the cost of living today is really terrifying,” linking his presence to the price of food, fuel and essentials.
In Milan, police clashed with protesters on Sunday during demonstrations over poor public services and rising living costs, while protesters threw rocks and looted shops.
In Gela, farmers said fuel prices had massively increased the cost of operating machinery, and Arcangelo Gambino said, “Fuel prices have more than doubled.”
Housing, arrests, elections
Housing costs fueled protests in Spain and Portugal, with housing activists in Spain and Portugal establishing makeshift tent camps to protest soaring rents and the growing difficulty of finding affordable accommodation. In Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square, protesters maintained tent camps for weeks, and the demonstrations gained momentum after the eviction of 87-year-old María del Carmen Abascal, who later died in hospital. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called an early election for November, while a general strike was also announced for the same month, the first in 14 years.
In France, violence over the weekend resulted in around 2,400 arrests and widespread damage in cities including Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux. In Italy, the “Italia in Piazza” movement mobilised thousands demanding improved employment opportunities, healthcare, education, housing access and higher wages, as official figures showed inflation in Italy climbed to 4.2 percent in September.
