Student protests that began in France in September have spread to at least eight European countries. Young Spaniards and Portuguese have pitched tents in their capitals to protest high rents, while French and Italian students have marched for better school conditions. Greeks demand more university funding, and young Albanians clashed with police during anti-corruption demonstrations.
The common thread is fear for the future, with protesters citing low salaries, high rents, climate change, and job prospects. "We are tired of everything," said Sacha Cossi, 27, a concert stagehand in Madrid's tent encampment. The movements reflect Europe's broader struggles with aging populations, rising debt, immigration, and technological change. While not yet matching the scale of 2008 anti-austerity protests, they are gaining international attention. "There's this sense of rejection, fatigue," said Stella Salis, 22, a protester from Padua.
The unrest has also emboldened far-right leaders like Matteo Salvini in Italy.
Source: New York Times Top Stories · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing