France’s government estimated 550,000 people marched Oct. 17 over living costs and school conditions, while separate demonstrations in Italy and Portugal pressed their own economic demands.
France’s Interior Ministry’s estimate was below the CGT labor union’s count of nearly 800,000 for the same day. The Oct. 17 demonstrations followed school protests that began in September, with demands later widening to living costs and public services.
French President Emmanuel Macron said Oct. 18 that peaceful protesters’ concerns deserved a response and condemned violence that damaged businesses. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said Oct. 19 he had instructed prefects to impose localized curfews and outlined support for affected shops.
In Milan, a march against wars and rising living costs turned violent; The Associated Press reported clashes with police and looting. A Reuters photograph from Oct. 18 showed police vehicles outside the Duomo after further clashes.
Eurostat said annual inflation across the euro area rose to 3.8% in September from 3.2% in August. Energy accounted for 1.71 percentage points of the September rate. Inflation reached 5.0% in Spain, 4.2% in Italy, 3.6% in Portugal and 3.4% in France.
Italy’s statistics agency, Istat, identified energy as a main driver of the country’s September price increase. Its third-quarter 2026 harmonized inflation measure was 4.4% for households with lower spending capacity, compared with 2.9% for those with higher spending capacity.
Portugal’s CGTP-IN union said thousands joined its Oct. 17 marches in Lisbon, Porto and Coimbra. It called for higher wages and pensions and stronger public services. The Associated Press also reported a protest camp in Madrid seeking greater protection for renters. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has announced a general election for Nov. 29.
Separately, Albania’s Ministry of Internal Affairs acknowledged protests in Tirana and urged parents to keep minors out of violent clashes. Eurostat is due to release its October inflation flash estimate Nov. 4. The CGT has called for a strike and demonstration Nov. 5, and CGTP-IN plans another protest Nov. 24, when it says Portugal’s final vote on the 2027 budget is scheduled.
