European Protests Spread, but Drivers Are National, Experts Say

Protests that began in France last month have spread across Europe, but experts say each country's movement is driven by distinct national issues rather than a French-led chain reaction. The French protests, which started as student demonstrations over high school funding and expanded to include unions and yellow vest activists, coincide with unrest in Albania, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Austria, and Serbia. Political scientist Frédéric Mérand notes that while movements feed off each other, national contexts differ sharply, citing upcoming elections in France and Spain and a solidly installed government in Italy. The common thread is inflation and rising costs of living, which have strained state budgets and fueled public frustration with political elites. France exemplifies this trend, with its fiscal capacity severely constrained by higher interest rates, limiting the government's ability to offer social programs or tax relief in response to demonstrations.