Europe's protests over costs and housing spread from France to Albania

Europe faces widespread social unrest as protests over rising costs, housing, and public services erupt across France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and Albania, leading to arrests, violence, and property damage. The demonstrations come ahead of pivotal elections in several major EU economies. In France, high schoolers have protested for weeks over underfunded schools, with unrest broadening to include labor unions and demands on living costs, resulting in 2,400 arrests and fires at public buildings. Spain and Portugal see tent camps against unaffordable rents, while Italy’s protests turned violent in Milan, Turin, and Bologna, with hundreds arrested. Far-right politicians, including President Donald Trump, have blamed immigrants for the chaos, though French authorities have not. The unrest also coincides with European tensions over Ukraine support and hybrid attacks, with right-wing parties gaining ground in Germany and elsewhere.