Cost-of-living protests spread across Europe
· Economy · France · Germany
Street protests over the rising cost of living are expected to spread to Germany and reignite in France on Saturday, with French authorities warning of a "very high risk of public disorder" and deploying around 70,000 police officers. Tens of thousands marched across Italy during a nationwide strike to demand higher wages and stronger public services and to oppose increased military spending. Dockworkers struck across Europe and beyond, disrupting shipping and ferries to protest the use of ports for arms shipments and seafarers killed in wars from the Gulf to the Black Sea.
Why it matters：Simultaneous unrest over prices, wages and militarisation signals broad social strain that could reshape European politics.
Key points
- France deploys about 70,000 police for weekend protests
- Tens of thousands marched in Italy during a national strike
- Dockworkers struck across Europe over arms shipments