Stories
Cost-of-Living Protests Sweep Across Europe from France to Portugal
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CNBC TV18•20-10-2026, 15:30
Cost-of-Living Protests Sweep Across Europe from France to Portugal
- •In France, protests sparked by teacher shortages and living standards led to hundreds of thousands marching, widespread arrests, and clashes with police.
- •Students in Brussels clashed with police, overturning cars and protesting university fees in unrest inspired by the French demonstrations.
- •Italian cities like Milan, Bologna, and Turin saw violent clashes during marches against war and rising living costs, resulting in dozens of detentions.
- •Spain experienced nationwide demonstrations driven by housing crises, teachers' strikes, and an early election called by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
- •Tens of thousands marched in Lisbon over low wages and a severe housing crisis where house prices surged significantly between 2015 and 2025.
Key Questions Answered
The protests in France initially began in September at high schools over teacher shortages and run-down facilities before growing into a wider movement regarding inequality, public spending, and living standards, drawing hundreds of thousands of marchers on October 17.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called an early election for November 29 after parliament rejected emergency housing measures, following nationwide demonstrations sparked by the eviction of an 87-year-old woman in Madrid.
Tens of thousands marched through Lisbon on October 17 over low wages and a deepening housing crisis. According to Eurostat, Portuguese house prices rose by 180% between 2015 and 2025, fueling widespread discontent.
