Violent Clashes in France, Italy and Albania Amid Protests Over Living Costs

According to the French Interior Ministry, approximately 550,000 people have taken to the streets in cities across France.

Demonstrations have reportedly involved vandalism, arson and clashes, leaving hundreds of law enforcement personnel injured and thousands of people detained, the report said.

The protests in France began in mid-September with a teachers’ strike in the outskirts of Paris over staff shortages. The movement subsequently spread nationwide, incorporating wider economic concerns, including the rising costs of food and energy.

In Albania, anti-government demonstrations have continued, with students and other citizens demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama. In the capital, Tirana, protesters reportedly threw stones at police and used petrol bombs and fireworks, while several government buildings and banks were set on fire.

Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators. Criminal cases have reportedly been registered against hundreds of people, while dozens of suspects have been detained. Rama has ruled out resigning and accused the opposition of fuelling tensions.

In Milan, Italy, protests over inflation and war also turned violent. Demonstrators reportedly vandalised and looted shops and threw stones at law enforcement personnel. Italian police detained dozens of people suspected of involvement in the violence, including several minors.

The mayor of Milan acknowledged citizens’ fundamental right to protest but condemned damage to property and attacks on police.

Demonstrations over economic and social pressures have also continued in other European countries, including Portugal, Spain and Greece.

In Portugal, thousands of people marched in Lisbon and Porto against rising living costs and the housing crisis. In Madrid, Spain, residents have set up tent encampments in public squares to protest soaring housing costs and rents.

Meanwhile, workers at an oil refinery in Greece staged a demonstration demanding improved workplace safety measures and transparent investigations into recent accidents.