Youth protests over housing and wages sweep Europe

Widespread youth protests are sweeping across Europe, with students and young workers demonstrating in France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Germany, Belgium, and Albania over economic hardships. The unrest stems from punishing rents, meager pay, and underfunded education systems. While each country's protests have distinct triggers, a unifying concern is that the social safety net protecting older generations will not be available for youth. The anger occurs amid aging populations, strained budgets, and rising military spending, with governments of all political stripes struggling to address these grievances. The demonstrations, including violent clashes in France, Italy, and Spain, have created political opportunities for far-right parties to campaign on law-and-order platforms. Young protesters question the value of working when they cannot afford housing or support families.