European protests from France to Poland: What's driving the unrest?

Europe is experiencing a fresh wave of protests driven by rising living costs, housing shortages, pressure on public services, and political accountability, leading to clashes and arrests across multiple countries. Demonstrations in France, Albania, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Poland reflect mounting public frustration over economic pressures and government policies. In France, nearly 1,000 people were arrested during Saturday's demonstrations over school funding and living costs, with police using tear gas and water cannons in Paris. Albania's anti-government movement demands Prime Minister Edi Rama's resignation over corruption allegations, while Italy faces protests over inflation reaching 4.2% and demands for higher wages. Spain's housing crisis, highlighted by an eviction-related death, and Portugal's affordability concerns have fueled unrest, with Poland's abortion-rights protests targeting unfulfilled political promises. The protests share common themes including cost-of-living pressures, housing shortages, public service strain, pension concerns, and policing debates, though each movement has distinct demands and contexts. Young people are prominent in several demonstrations, reflecting uncertainty among European youth, while the unrest occurs amid approaching elections and broader political tensions across the continent.