Updated
Youth-led protests over living costs and school conditions spread across France and Germany on Saturday, November 1, 2026, with hundreds of thousands reportedly taking part in Paris according to France 24. Riot police in Paris fired tear gas, small fires broke out, and similar scenes occurred in Bordeaux, Toulouse and Marseille. France 24 reported that protests in France helped inspire youth demonstrations in Portugal, Italy and Germany. In Germany, a youth initiative whose name roughly translates as "Gen Z has got this" led particularly large rallies calling for better education and healthcare, stronger climate protection, affordable living costs, and opposition to any return to compulsory military service. Protests in several major German cities turned violent, and French outlets reported that social media posts about the demonstrations were being suppressed. The group behind the German demonstrations has since called for further protests to keep pressure on the government to act. Separately, Deutsche Welle reported that the IG Metall union has begun warning strikes after pay talks collapsed.