Europe's youth return to the streets for another weekend of protests, in photos
A car is on fire during protests over living costs and education in Paris, France, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2026.
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Thousands of young protesters have taken to the streets across France for a third weekend. The French government estimated that 320,000 people turned out for the demonstrations on Saturday. They were protesting over living costs and education. Around 70,000 police officers were deployed nationwide with Paris marches rerouted to the city’s outskirts. French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warned of a high risk of disorder especially after dark on Halloween. The protests began last month with high school students and have since grown to include labor unions and others. Similar youth-led protests have been reported in Germany and Italy with calls for action on education, health, climate protection and affordable living.
French authorities have expressed relief after recent protests over rising living costs resulted in less violence than previous weekends. High schools at the heart of the movement reopen Monday after their autumn break. Germany faced challenges after nationwide protests Saturday ended with rioters attacking police and looting stores in some cities. Around Europe, hundreds of thousands held marches Saturday inspired by young people that were overwhelmingly peaceful despite scattered unrest. In Paris, rioters targeted police with Molotov cocktails at the end of Saturday’s march on the city’s eastern edge, injuring three officers and setting a car ablaze.
