Youth protests sweep France and Germany for third weekend

Hundreds of thousands of mostly young demonstrators marched in cities across France on Saturday for a third consecutive weekend of protests over living costs and education, and youth-led rallies spread to Germany, Italy and Portugal, according to the outlets reporting from them.

NPR reported that around 320,000 people took to the streets nationwide, citing French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who warned of a "very high risk" of disorder, especially after dark on Halloween. RFI described the crowds as hundreds of thousands without giving a precise figure.

Police fired tear gas in Paris after clashes broke out at the end of the march, RFI reported. Some of those on the march came dressed as clowns and witches for Halloween.

In Germany, France 24 reported that the rallies were led by a youth initiative whose name roughly translates as "Gen Z has got this". Demonstrators called for better education and healthcare, stronger climate protection and a more affordable cost of living, and opposed any return to compulsory military service.

Protests in several major German cities turned violent towards the end of the day, particularly in Frankfurt, the country's financial hub, according to France 24. DW reported that Germany's Gen Z protests were disrupted by violence on Saturday. Neither outlet gave figures for injuries, arrests or damage.

France 24 reported that the demonstrations in France helped inspire youth rallies elsewhere in Europe, from Portugal and Italy to Germany. RFI also reported youth rallies in Germany and Italy on the same day.

CBC News reported the day's events as a third weekend of youth-led protests sweeping France and Europe.

The French marches have now run for three consecutive weekends. The reports did not say how many people had been detained in France, or what specific policy response, if any, the French government has offered to the protesters' demands.