French protest wave spreads to Germany as clashes erupt in several cities

“Gen Z” protests erupted in 34 German cities on Saturday, with demonstrators demanding relief from the cost of living and improvements to education and public services. Looting and attacks on police broke out in several cities after nightfall.

France also saw nationwide demonstrations for a third consecutive weekend, with 565 people arrested.

German youth group Gen Z regelt, meaning “Gen Z takes charge”, organised demonstrations in cities including Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich on Saturday (31 October).

Organisers estimated that about 120,000 people took part nationwide, fewer than the roughly 180,000 originally expected. However, according to Reuters, police turnout figures in some cities were significantly lower than organisers’ estimates.

Inspired by youth protests in France, Italy and elsewhere, the demonstrations reflected young Germans’ discontent with rising living costs, dilapidated school facilities and government cuts to public spending.

Protesters also opposed the government’s sharp increase in military spending. They feared that a new voluntary military service scheme, introduced to expand the armed forces, could pave the way for the return of conscription.

Germany’s economy has struggled with weak growth for years. As the post-war baby boom generation retires, the shrinking workforce is putting greater pressure on pensions and public services.

Protest organisers said younger generations were shouldering an increasingly heavy burden, yet the government was not doing enough to listen to them.

The demonstrations coincided with Halloween, and many participants marched dressed as dinosaurs, Batman and other characters. The atmosphere was largely peaceful during the day. By evening, however, some refused to disperse, and violence broke out in several cities.

The unrest was particularly severe in Frankfurt, Germany’s financial centre. Masked rioters smashed the windows of several shops, and at least two shops were looted. Some also threw stones, fireworks and petrol bombs at police officers and emergency personnel.

A gun shop was also broken into. Police arrested a suspect and recovered two weapons. The situation only began to calm in the early hours of Sunday (1 November).

Hesse’s interior minister Roman Poseck said about 100 left-wing extremists had infiltrated the Frankfurt demonstration. Poseck stressed that the looting, arson and attacks on police seen in France must never become a model for German protesters to follow.

Organisers said they opposed violence and would not allow extremist groups, racism or hate speech to infiltrate the movement.

Meanwhile, nationwide demonstrations took place in France on Saturday for a third consecutive weekend. Although turnout fell, clashes between police and protesters still broke out in cities including Paris, Lyon and Toulouse.

According to France’s Interior Ministry, about 320,000 people took part nationwide, including roughly 70,000 in Paris. The national total was down from 410,000 and 550,000 on the previous two Saturdays. Youth organisations, however, estimated turnout at nearly 500,000.

France’s Interior Ministry said on Sunday that 779 people had been arrested nationwide. Four police officers and a gendarme (a paramilitary police officer) were injured in Paris, three of whom suffered burns from petrol bombs.

Interior minister Laurent Nunez said the marches were generally orderly, but the level of violence used by some rioters against law enforcement officers was shocking. Nunez strongly condemned the attacks on police and described a petrol bomb attack on a riot police officer as “attempted murder”.

The current wave of protests in France was initially launched by secondary school students.

Last week, the government announced a series of education reforms, including changes to university admissions, loans for school building renovations and smaller classes for some year groups. These measures have failed to quell students’ discontent.

Student organisations said blockades at some secondary schools would resume on Monday (2 November). Other groups also planned to blockade secondary schools and university campuses on Tuesday (3 November) and Thursday (5 November) to keep up pressure on the government.