Cost-of-living protests and economic discontent have put governments across Europe under pressure, with demonstrations and clashes reported in France, Belgium, Italy and Portugal. In France, more than 550,000 people reportedly protested, with authorities saying 1,200 people were arrested and 150 police officers injured. AFP reported looting and fires in several French cities. In Belgium, police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators in Brussels and Liège. Portugal saw tens of thousands march over low wages, rising living costs and a worsening housing affordability crisis, with house prices more than doubling since 2017. In Italy, protests escalated into clashes, vandalism and arrests in Milan and other cities. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended peaceful demonstrations while condemning violence against police and damage to public property.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
#EuropeProtests #CostOfLivingCrisis #UkraineWar #EuropeanUnion #FranceProtests #ItalyProtests #BelgiumProtests #Portugal #GiorgiaMeloni #EuropeanEconomy #Inflation #HousingCrisis #Brussels #WorldNews #Geopolitics
