Europe Protests Rising Living Costs From Lisbon to Milan

Cost-of-living protests erupted across Europe over the weekend, with demonstrators clashing with police in Lisbon, Brussels, and Milan over rising costs and low wages. In Portugal, thousands joined union-organized rallies on October 17, where housing prices rose 16.5% annually, the highest in the EU, and average Lisbon rent exceeds typical monthly income by 16%. Belgian police arrested 195 people during violent protests over education costs, using water cannons and tear gas. In Milan, looters damaged shops during a demonstration against wars and living costs, prompting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to condemn the violence. Italy's inflation hit 4.1% in September, while Milan home prices are 49% higher than in 2018.