Germany Draws 120,000 Cost-of-Living Protesters as France's Rallies Shrink to 320,000
Updated
Updated · CNN · Oct 31
Germany Draws 120,000 Cost-of-Living Protesters as France's Rallies Shrink to 320,000
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Oct 31
Summary
120,000 people joined Halloween-timed protests across Germany on Saturday, according to organizers, as the youth-led “Gen Z has got this!” movement spread France’s cost-of-living unrest into Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne and Munich.
High living costs drove the marches, but protesters also targeted underfunded schools and universities, environmental policy and possible mandatory military service, while organizers said they aimed to maximize turnout and keep demonstrations peaceful.
Police still deployed heavily nationwide: water cannons were used in Cologne after fireworks were set off, riot police moved in in Hamburg after fires and attacks on emergency workers, and Frankfurt saw Molotov cocktails, smashed windows and one arrest.
France also staged another nationwide protest day, but turnout fell to 320,000 from 410,000 last week and 550,000 on October 17; 70,000 marched in Paris and 296 people had been detained by 6 p.m.
The cross-border unrest comes ahead of a November 5 French nationwide strike over living costs, with authorities already warning of further disorder after more than 1,193 officers were injured in recent weeks.