Arab Spring, Autumn of Rage: The Continent Takes to the Streets

A wave of widespread protests across Europe: in France, a town hall was set on fire and 70,000 police officers were deployed; in Milan, looting and clashes; in Spain, the death of a woman became a symbol of the housing struggle; in Portugal, tents were evacuated; students and pupils protest in Greece, Austria, and Belgium; in Serbia, a protest movement is running in elections. The article examines whether this is the beginning of a 'European Spring'.

The article surveys a wave of widespread protests across Europe in October 2026, focusing on France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Greece, Austria, Albania, and Serbia. The protests concern the cost of living, housing, wages, education, and public services, and are accompanied by violence and looting in some places. In Milan, Israeli Mika Segal describes two days of being confined to her home after clashes and looting. In France, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez deployed 70,000 security personnel after the town hall in Limoges was set on fire. Richard Smadja from Marseille says he hides his Jewishness for fear of hostility. In Spain, the death of 87-year-old Merikerman Abascal after being evicted from her home became a symbol in the housing struggle. In Portugal, protest tents were evacuated in Lisbon and Porto. In Belgium, Greece, and Austria, pupils, students, and teachers demonstrated. In Serbia, a protest movement that emerged from the Novi Sad railway station disaster is fielding candidates in elections. The article asks whether this is the beginning of a unified 'European Spring', while emphasizing the differences between the countries.