Protests across Europe show no sign of abating.
asserted
Protests → show → abating
They subside on certain days, only to flare up a few days later.
asserted
They → subside → days
Largely led by young people, demonstrations have swept across at least eight European countries, driven by grievances ranging from school conditions and the cost of diesel to a deeper sense of insecurity about the future – and the feeling that opportunities are increasingly out of reach.
asserted
opportunities → lead → reach
Recommended Stories
list of 3 items- list 1 of 3UK to double wait for permanent residency, with exemptions for care workers
- list 2 of 3California’s Bay Area debates data centres ahead of US midterm elections
- list 3 of 3‘Going hungry’: Garment workers in Bangladesh say wages barely cover needs
asserted
wages → wait → needs
“They are plural and uncoordinated, with no single leader or programme,” said Alberto Alemanno, professor of European Union law and policy at HEC Paris Business School.
asserted
Alemanno → say → School
“So it’s less a rejection of one policy and more a signal that people no longer trust the system to deliver.
asserted
system → ’ → policy
That’s why they are so critical.”
asserted
they → ’ → ?
For governments, addressing discontent is proving difficult.
asserted
addressing → address → discontent
Experts say there is no easy fix, and that many have so far struggled to offer answers beyond a show of force.
asserted
many → say → force
The protests are likely to continue, they warn.
asserted
they → continue → ?
“Where there has been a reaction, the focus is on public order and security,” Alemanno said.
asserted
Alemanno → say → order
“Part of the reason is that, like any popular protest, these movements include or attract small violent minorities.
asserted
movements → include → minorities
They dominate the headlines and risk undermining legitimate claims.
uncertain
They → dominate → claims
”
Rallies continue because they are increasingly about more than individual grievances, said Donatella della Porta, a political science professor at the Scuola Normale Superiore in Florence.
asserted
Porta → continue → Florence
While governments have tried to address some of the protesters’ material demands, they have failed to grasp the broader political concerns driving the demonstrations.
asserted
they → try → demonstrations
“At this point, protests are no longer just about investing more in the school system.
asserted
protests → invest → system
There are also fundamental issues, including military spending, governments’ alliance with [United States President Donald] Trump, the rising cost of gasoline and the war in Iran,” she said.
asserted
she → be → Iran
This week, protesters have continued to blockade several high schools and universities in France, where students have been pushing for better conditions, more teachers and the replacement of Parcoursup, an admission system that some say is discriminatory.
asserted
some → continue → Parcoursup
In Germany, metal and electrical workers have gone on strike while students have demonstrated over fears of the return of conscription.
asserted
students → go → conscription
In Belgium, firefighters marched through Brussels, demanding more staff and better equipment.
asserted
firefighters → march → staff
And on Friday in Italy, the USB union brought tens of thousands of people together, calling for a reduction in military spending.
asserted
union → bring → spending
Critical, and yet hard to resolve
France’s Education Minister Edouard Geffray said on Monday that some measures to meet students’ demands have been adopted, including capping class sizes to 28 for the first year of high school, creating 10,000 places in higher technician programmes, and transforming Parcoursup.
asserted
measures → resolve → Parcoursup
Other measures require in-depth work between now and the end of December, he said on X.
asserted
he → require → December
But the announcements have failed to quell the protests.
asserted
announcements → fail → protests
On Tuesday, dozens of schools remained blockaded and several universities were disrupted, according to French media.
uncertain
universities → remain → media
A nationwide strike over wages, the cost of living and public services is also expected on November 5.
asserted
strike → expect → November
In Spain, massive protests swept through the country for weeks over a housing crisis, triggered by the eviction and subsequent death of an 87-year-old pensioner from her lifelong home.
asserted
protests → sweep → home
On Tuesday, police dismantled a sprawling tent camp in Madrid’s Puerta del Sol square.
asserted
police → dismantle → square
Officials said the eviction took place overnight “without incident or episodes of violence”, reporting that 334 people were removed and two arrested.
asserted
two → say → violence
In a post on Telegram, protest organisers lamented “a violent police operation” that they said left several people injured.
asserted
they → lament → people
The government has approved new housing measures, including limits on rent increases and temporary protections against eviction for some vulnerable tenants.
asserted
government → approve → tenants
But these promises have done little to dissuade protesters, who are planning a general strike over housing rights and the cost of living on November 11.
asserted
who → do → November
In Italy, after violence broke out during protests two weeks ago, the government of far-right leader Giorgia Meloni tightened security measures.
asserted
government → break → measures
“Violent participation” in a demonstration – by joining a group of five or more people and throwing stones, firecrackers or sticks – was made a criminal offence that could result in up to five years in prison and a fine of up to 20,000 euros ($22,500).
uncertain
that → join → euros
Italy also made parents liable for damage caused by their children and adopted a policy of preventive detention of children.
asserted
parents → make → children
The growing emphasis on public order has raised concerns among human rights organisations, which warn that European governments risk treating social discontent as a security threat rather than addressing the grievances behind it.
asserted
governments → grow → it
In a statement in October, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk raised serious concerns about the state responses to protests across Europe and the unnecessary and excessive use of force against protesters, including children.
asserted
Turk → raise → children
Following the use of tear gas and stun grenades, among others, by French police against young protesters, Human Rights Watch said the government should “listen to the demands of young people on the streets”.
asserted
government → follow → streets
Della Porta said governments risk further alienating protesters by responding to demonstrations primarily through policing and repression.
asserted
governments → say → policing
“They can start by doing concrete things, such as recognising the right to protest and not sending police in a counterinsurgency-style approach to repress students,” she said.
asserted
she → start → students
…and 9 more, not listed.
The Aporia
