Europe’s Protests Meet Crackdowns and State Control

More than 3,600 demonstrations took place across Europe in the first 19 days of October, according to ACLED, as protests over living costs, fuel prices and public services spread across the European Union. France accounted for more than half of them and 90% of demonstrations classified as riots. The figures point to a season of discontent. Governments are responding with security measures, election promises and proposals for tighter regulation.

Roadblocks and the security decree

In southern Italy, truckers’ blockades over fuel prices have grown in scale and intensity, disrupting supplies. Supermarket shelves and gas pumps stood empty. Fuel wasn’t reaching airports. After a Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said her government would use a security decree to dismantle the roadblocks and provide aid to counter expensive diesel.

Meloni said the government wouldn’t be “blackmailed by those who use violence as an instrument of pressure.” She added: “those who want to work must be able to do it, and the state must guarantee it.” Her government also announced financial support for diesel for farmers and fishermen. Protesters called more demonstrations in eight cities for Saturday. In recent years, her government has introduced a series of measures to crack down on protests, including the security decree.

The clash involves both the cost of fuel and who gets to control the roads. The government says it will dismantle the blockades while offering support to selected groups hit by diesel prices. Protests are still on the calendar: demonstrations are called for Saturday in eight cities.

Thousands of Greek students and teachers took to the streets. They demanded more education funding, safe school buildings and affordable housing, and carried banners in French to show solidarity with protesters in France. Alexis Tsipras, former PM and leader of the newly formed Elas party, said: “The message is coming through loud and clear from France and beyond.”

Promises, ballots and limits

In Spain, an acute crisis over unaffordable property has drawn thousands of protesters into the streets in recent weeks. The first general strike in 15 years was scheduled for Nov. 11. Spain is also due to hold elections on Nov. 29, one of the polls approaching in countries discussed in the newsletter. POLITICO reported concerns about how economic insecurity and polarized politics would play out in campaigns, with populist parties expected to benefit from public anger.

Poland prepared for its biggest abortion-rights protest in two years, with demonstrations planned in 24 cities. Parliament passed two reforms loosening restrictions that week, but activists said the changes fell short of PM Donald Tusk’s 2023 pledge to legalize abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy. The vote brought changes. Activists say it didn’t deliver what had been promised.

Greece was due to vote on legislation banning children under 15 from using social media. The proposed restriction would take effect Jan. 1, 2027, and require parents or guardians to install an app that enforces it across devices. State Minister Akis Skertsos said: “We need to move from individual responsibility on the part of parents and children toward corporate responsibility and state regulation.” The government said age verification wouldn’t disclose children’s personal information to social media companies. Opposition parties disagreed over whether a blanket age-based prohibition could address wider online risks. Pasok proposed a gradual restriction and special limited accounts for children aged 13 to 15. The bill would stop being enforced once a European regulation on the same issue entered into force. In August, a French court blocked similar legislation by Macron.

Borders, budgets and recruitment

Italy and Spain agreed to end mutual border checks at airports and ports on Oct. 23. The governments introduced the restrictions in August following the migrant crisis in Ceuta. They are removing the checks; the newsletter gives no further detail about the people affected by them.

Portugal’s Defense Minister Nuno Melo announced a voluntary armed forces program to boost recruitment, launching in 2027. Participants would receive €439 and free driving lessons for three to six weeks of service. The recruitment offer arrived alongside warnings about household budgets: experts said energy prices would likely rise over the winter and weigh on families. Carsten Brzeski, ING’s global head of macro research, said: “There is an issue that is now voiced more loudly in France, but it is very similar to the situation in other European countries.”

The same newsletter reported Britain’s plans to increase gas pipeline imports from continental Europe over winter, amid concerns about its ability to supply all customers in an emergency. Ofgem planned to authorize urgent investment to boost imports. In Brussels, negotiations over the EU’s demand for cut-price tuition fees for EU students studying in Britain were set to continue after next month’s U.K.-EU summit, according to three EU diplomats with knowledge of the talks. The delay would clear the way for a deal on other key parts of Britain’s “reset” with the bloc.

People are taking their grievances into public space, from blocked roads and school funding demands to abortion-rights marches and housing protests. Governments are answering with decrees, proposed restrictions, subsidies, ballots and recruitment offers. Demonstrations continue before those responses have settled the demands that brought people out.