Europe is witnessing a fresh wave of demonstrations over rising living costs, pension concerns, housing affordability, education, corruption and opposition to war, with protests across France, Albania, Italy, Spain and Portugal leading to clashes with police and heightened security measures.
Authorities in several countries have stepped up security following violence during earlier demonstrations, deploying additional police personnel and, in some areas, soldiers, according to reports by Euronews.
France witnessed one of the largest crackdowns during Saturday’s demonstrations, with nearly 1,000 people arrested, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. The French government estimated that around 410,000 people participated in protests nationwide, while organisers put the figure at nearly 800,000.
Nearly 1,000 Arrested During Protests in France
In Paris, police declared the demonstration along the Cours de Vincennes completely dispersed following confrontations between protesters and security personnel, France 24 reported.
The prefectural police said a gendarmerie helicopter had been deployed to assist officers on the ground and locate remaining groups of rioters. Authorities reported that more than 500 people described as rioters were present towards the end of the demonstration.
Police used tear gas and water cannons after projectiles were thrown at them. Nuñez said the arrest figure had reached nearly 1,000 and was expected to rise further. By the same point during the previous Saturday’s protests, police had made 385 arrests following incidents of violence and looting.
The police response also drew criticism from French left-wing leader and presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon. In posts on X, Mélenchon accused law enforcement personnel and sections of the media of portraying the protest movement negatively by focusing on confrontations rather than peaceful demonstrations.
He alleged that police tactics had helped provoke disorder and claimed that two people had suffered serious injuries. He urged the public to switch off television coverage and form their own opinions about the demonstrations.
Trump Blames France’s Border Policies for Unrest
The unrest in France also drew comments from US President Donald Trump, who addressed the situation during a campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, on Saturday, local time.
Trump blamed France’s immigration and border policies for the turmoil, claiming that the country was facing widespread unrest because it had opened its borders to people who, he alleged, were hostile towards French society and culture.
His remarks added an international political dimension to the protests, which have involved a range of grievances and competing views over the causes of the unrest.
Tear Gas and Clashes in Albania
In Albania, thousands of people gathered in the capital, Tirana, on Saturday for another demonstration against the government.
The protests brought together students, artists and political groups amid mounting opposition to the authorities. Police fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators as clashes intensified, while government buildings were reportedly attacked.
Authorities said more than 300 protesters and police personnel had been injured, and dozens of demonstrators were detained, according to Euronews.
Arrests Across Italian Cities
Italy also witnessed demonstrations in several major cities, including Milan, Rome, Turin, Naples, Bologna and Florence. Thousands took to the streets, with some protesters reportedly throwing bottles, stones and firecrackers.
Italian police said nine people had been arrested and 371 briefly detained during demonstrations across eight cities on Saturday. Of those taken to police stations, 110 were minors, according to the police statement.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanked law enforcement personnel for maintaining public order while protecting the right to peaceful protest. She accused a section of demonstrators of attempting to provoke clashes and disorder.
Meloni also thanked Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, prefects, police chiefs and others involved in coordinating security arrangements.
She stressed that the right to demonstrate must be protected alongside the public’s right to safety, adding that government measures were intended to strengthen the authorities’ ability to prevent violence.
Pensions and Housing Drive Protests in Spain and Portugal
In Spain, demonstrators in Madrid focused on pension security and demands for better financial protection for retirees.
Their demands included linking pension increases to actual inflation, raising minimum pensions in line with the minimum wage, narrowing the gender pension gap and protecting the public pension system from privatisation.
In Portugal, affordable housing emerged as a major concern, with demonstrators taking to the streets amid growing anxiety over housing costs.