Why are young people protesting across Europe, from France to Germany?

BBC world news correspondent Joe Inwood said the protests are largely youth-led and peaceful, driven by the cost of living, underfunded public services, housing and education. They started with French student protests over crumbling schools and have spread to Germany, Italy, Portugal, Switzerland and Albania. A violent minority has looted shops and clashed with police, and Inwood said that minority is shaping how the movement is seen.

• In Germany a group called Gen Z Will Sort It organised the marches, and rioting hit Frankfurt, Berlin, Cologne and Hamburg.
• French police arrested about 770 people and opened an attempted murder inquiry after petrol bombs were thrown at officers.
• Local triggers differ: conscription worries in Germany, housing in Portugal.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Global News Podcast (2026-11-02). Read the whole episode summary →

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