Hundreds of thousands protest living costs in Belgium, France, Italy and Portugal; France sees 1,200 arrests as discontent spreads

Hundreds of thousands of people took part in separate, uncoordinated demonstrations in Belgium, France, Italy and Portugal over rising living costs, low wages and housing shortages. Alberto Alemanno, a professor of EU law and policy at HEC Paris Business School, told Al Jazeera that France was the movement’s epicenter and that there were signs of discontent spreading, with mobilization expected in Greece, Germany and Austria. The wave of unrest has put significant pressure on governments across the European Union.

France experienced one of its most turbulent days in decades, with more than 550,000 participants and clashes, looting and fires in major cities. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu reported that 1,200 people had been arrested and 150 police officers injured. Town halls in cities including Limoges, Marseille and Lille were vandalized or largely destroyed.

In Belgium, police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds in Brussels and Liege after property was targeted and projectiles were thrown.

In Lisbon, tens of thousands marched against the cost-of-living crisis and soaring housing prices. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Carlos Abreu Amorim said the government would not yield to street protests.

Rallies in Milan and Bologna over living costs and wars turned violent, leading to about 50 detentions and injuries to police officers. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence. Milan Mayor Giuseppe Sala said the grievances were understandable, but destruction and attacks on law enforcement were unjustifiable.