MOSCOW, October 19. /TASS/. It would be a mistake to view foreign interference as the primary cause of mass protests in Europe, as the roots of public discontent lie in the domestic policies pursued by the continent’s leaders, political analyst Ilya Grashchenkov told TASS.
"Blaming everything solely on foreign interference would be a mistake. The social and economic problems facing European countries are real. They have been building up for years, and the current unrest may signal the beginning of a profound transformation of Europe’s political system. In my view, these domestic factors are the decisive ones today," Grashchenkov said.
Commenting on allegations of foreign interference made by Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, the expert noted that no evidence had been presented to substantiate such claims.
"Various external actors may be trying to exploit the situation to advance their own information agendas. However, having an interest in a political crisis in Europe does not mean being directly involved in orchestrating it," he observed.
Grashchenkov also pointed to growing divisions among Western allies.
"There are significant ideological differences between the conservative administration of US President Donald Trump and a large segment of the European political establishment. As a result, various forces may see the protests as an opportunity to influence the future direction of Europe," he concluded.
Mass protests have taken place in France, Italy and Albania in recent days. In France, demonstrations have been driven by rising fuel prices and declining purchasing power. In Italy, protesters have voiced opposition to the policies of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government, while in Albania, demonstrators have demanded the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. Hundreds of people have been detained across the three countries amid the unrest.