Europe's wave of anger: How far will youth-led protests go?

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Issued on: 22/10/2026 - 10:12Modified: 22/10/2026 - 10:14

Youth-driven protests have been popping up all over Europe: in Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Albania, Serbia and Greece. The spark here in France was deteriorating conditions in high schools and universities, particularly for students from underprivileged backgrounds. Meanwhile, wages aren't keeping up with inflation. The housing crisis is front and centre in places like Spain and Portugal, while corruption and democratic backsliding have sparked uproar in Albania and Serbia.

Last Saturday's unexpected violence in France was mirrored on a smaller scale in Italy's financial capital Milan. The response on both sides of the Alps was a message of firmness and the deployment of troops to stop looters tarnished by the far right as led by foreigners.

Will the Melonis and the Le Pens of the continent come out as the big winners? Will this movement mark a turning point for Europe?