On May 23, 2026, 5.5 lakh demonstrators marched through Paris, while smaller protests erupted in Brussels, Lisbon, Milan and Tirana, all converging on the same demand: lower living costs.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 1.10 lakh joined the Paris march, blaming fuel hikes and inflation. In Brussels, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin slammed the clashes as "pure violence" after police used water cannons.
Portugal saw 3,000 march in Lisbon, Italy had 1,200 in Milan, and Albania's 500 threw bricks at the Education Ministry, demanding better conditions for students.
President Emmanuel Macron, barred from running again, faces mounting pressure; opposition leaders Rahul Gandhi and Dharmendra Pradhan have called for reforms and a national dialogue.
The Interior Ministry has scheduled a cabinet meeting for June 10 to draft a cost‑of‑living strategy; the European Parliament urged member states to act soon.
Sima, a 28‑year‑old teacher from Lyon, says she cannot afford rent, and her students fear their future.