Cost of living protests hit Belgium, Italy, Portugal and France

What the report says

Hundreds of thousands of people joined separate protests on Saturday in Belgium, France, Italy and Portugal, as demonstrations over the cost of living spread across several EU countries. Al Jazeera reported that the rallies were not centrally coordinated, but they reflected mounting anger over rising prices, low wages, housing costs and, in some places, education-related grievances.

In France, the unrest was the largest, with Al Jazeera saying more than 550,000 people took part in protests that led to confrontations with police in multiple locations. In Belgium, police in Brussels and Liege used tear gas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators, while authorities said some protesters threw missiles and set fires. In Italy, rallies in Milan and Bologna included both peaceful marches and clashes with police, with local media reporting injuries and arrests.

Portugal also saw major turnout, with tens of thousands marching in Lisbon against the cost of living, low wages and difficulty finding affordable housing. Protesters there highlighted steep increases in house prices and rents in recent years. Portuguese officials, including Parliamentary Affairs Minister Carlos Abreu Amorim, signaled the government would not bow to street pressure.

A professor of EU law quoted by Al Jazeera said the protests could spread further in Europe, with signs of similar mobilization in countries such as Greece, Germany and Austria. The broader context is a period of political strain across Europe, ahead of several national elections over the coming year.