Europe's far right gains ground as fuel-price protests roil France

France is experiencing some of its worst unrest in decades as soaring fuel prices and cost-of-living pressures fuel protests, giving fresh momentum to far-right parties ahead of elections next year in France, Italy, and Poland. The unrest follows the US-Iran war, which sent energy prices sharply higher. Demonstrations in France, sparked by school conditions, have escalated into looting and arson, with President Emmanuel Macron acknowledging "legitimate demands" while condemning violence. Similar protests have erupted across Europe, from Italian farmers and truckers to marches in Lisbon, driven by economic anxieties that are shaping politics. Far-right parties are capitalizing on the crisis, with Marine Le Pen's fuel tax cut proposal boosting her ratings, while Germany's AfD leads polls by pushing to restore Russian energy ties. Analysts note populist parties frame energy costs as avoidable government policy choices rather than geopolitical shocks.