Halloween Night Sparks Massive Youth-Led Protests Across France and Europe
Youth-driven demonstrations erupt on Halloween, drawing 320,000 across France and spilling into Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands over cost of living, ed...
POLICY WIRE — Paris, France — A third weekend of nationwide unrest saw hundreds of thousands of young demonstrators take to the streets, marking the most sustained wave of protests in France this year.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned authorities of a “very high risk” of disorder after dark, specifically on Halloween, as estimates put participation at roughly 320,000 people across the country.
Many participants dressed as clowns, witches and other Halloween figures while chanting grievances over soaring living costs, strained public services and perceived failures in the education system.
Parallel rallies unfolded in Germany, Portugal and the Netherlands; in German cities, a youth movement called “Gen Z regelt” (“Gen Z’s got this”) called for affordable housing, health care, climate action and an end to any return of military conscription.
French police reported isolated clashes in several cities but largely prepared for potential violence, deploying additional officers ahead of the evening gatherings.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
