PARIS & LISBON — Civil unrest continued to sweep across Europe over the weekend as citizens took to the streets to voice deep economic frustrations, marked by a fifth consecutive week of demonstrations in France and massive housing protests in Portugal.
France: Inflation and Police Bill Fuel Ongoing Unrest
In France, nationwide demonstrations organized by student groups, labor unions, and civil rights organizations entered their fifth week on Saturday (local time). Protesters gathered in major cities including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, and Strasbourg, demanding urgent action against soaring inflation and deteriorating educational infrastructure.
While the French Ministry of the Interior estimated total nationwide turnout at 106,000—down from 146,000 the previous week—student unions put the figure closer to 200,000.
Demonstrators carried French tricolors alongside banners bearing slogans like "No Peace Without Justice" and "Cost of Living SOS," accompanied by satirical caricatures of President Emmanuel Macron.
"The government has only offered us breadcrumbs," said Benjamin Bail, a prominent figure from the Yellow Vest movement. "We want the whole bakery." Labor leaders argue that recent government proposals regarding minimum wage adjustments and school funding fall woefully short of addressing the daily financial struggles of ordinary citizens.
Adding fuel to the fire, protesters fiercely condemned a controversial police security bill currently winding its way through parliament. The legislation preliminarily classifies police use of force as lawful self-defense, a provision that sparked outrage following recent clashes involving injured teenagers.
While far-right leaders, including National Rally (RN) figurehead Marine Le Pen, defended the measures to protect law enforcement officers from automatic scrutiny, civil rights activists denounced the bill as a "license to kill." Tensions were further inflamed by a pending property damage liability bill that could hold protesters legally accountable for vandalism even without direct participation.
Although largely peaceful, the demonstrations saw isolated clashes late in the evening. Riot police deployed tear gas to disperse groups setting fire to trash cans in cities like Paris, Lyon, and Bordeaux. Authorities reported 121 arrests nationwide by late afternoon.
Portugal: Tens of Thousands March Against Exploding Housing Costs
Meanwhile, Portugal witnessed its largest mobilization since tent and street demonstrations began last month, with tens of thousands of citizens marching across some 30 cities, including Lisbon and Porto. People of all generations—from teenagers to senior citizens—rallied behind banners declaring, "Our right to housing will not be stolen."
The demonstrations follow a Eurostat report released last week revealing that between 2015 and 2025, Portugal experienced the European Union's steepest surge in housing prices relative to household income, skyrocketing by 61%. Neighboring nations trailed far behind, with the Netherlands recording a 34% increase and Spain seeing a 25% rise. Furthermore, data from the Portuguese government indicates that residential rental prices have surged by 68% since 2020, pushing many residents to the financial brink.
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