French Cost-of-Living Protests Spread Across Europe

Protests over the cost of living in France have spread to other European countries, including Italy, Belgium, Portugal, and Albania, with clashes between demonstrators and police reported in several nations. In France, protests erupted in multiple cities on Saturday, October 17, with hardline groups damaging public buildings, looting luxury boutiques and supermarkets, and attacking vehicles and police. Nearly 2,400 people were arrested, and almost 1,000 police officers were injured. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence, stating that while protesting is a right, turning cities into battlefields is not. In Portugal, tens of thousands demonstrated in Lisbon over housing costs, while Albanian protests led by students demanded the prime minister's resignation.