From the Guardian · · 2m
Housing protests spread across Europe as anger peaks
Demonstrations over living costs and rents have erupted in Italy, Portugal, Albania and France, with clashes turning violent in Milan and Tirana.
In brief
Demonstrations over living costs and rents have erupted in Italy, Portugal, Albania and France, with clashes turning violent in Milan and Tirana. Protests over housing costs and living expenses have spread from Spain and France to Italy, Portugal and Albania, with violent clashes in Milan and Tirana. Originally…
Milan march turns violent
A Saturday protest against rising living costs in central Milan began peacefully but ended with masked rioters throwing stones and paving blocks at riot police and setting fire to barricades made from bar tables.
Police response and arrests in Milan
Police used water cannon and teargas to disperse crowds. At least two police officers were injured and about fifty demonstrators, including many minors, were detained, according to the LaPresse news agency.
Meloni condemns violence but defends protest right
Italy's prime minister Giorgia Meloni said demonstrating was a right but setting cities ablaze was not. She accused hooligans of exploiting protests to sow chaos and attack security forces.
“setting our cities ablaze is not”
Lisbon tent camp demands housing action
Hundreds of protesters set up a tent encampment in Rossio Square in Lisbon over the weekend, demanding action on the housing crisis and living costs.
Portuguese housing prices surge
Portuguese housing prices rose by one hundred twenty-four percent between two thousand fifteen and two thousand twenty-four, roughly twice as fast as the EU average.
Protester describes suffocation
Elena Costa, a forty-six-year-old social assistant, said the Portuguese social class that pays taxes and keeps the country going is under attack and losing its right to housing.
“we are suffocating”
Albania police fire rubber bullets
Violent demonstrations erupted in Albania over university conditions and high tuition fees.On Saturday, protesters threw rocks, molotov cocktails and pyrotechnic devices at police.Police fired rubber bullets on demonstrators for the first time since protests began.
Spain's eviction sparked wider movement
Growing anger over soaring rents boiled over in Spain last month after an eighty-seven-year-old woman was evicted because she could not pay a two hundred thirty percent rent increase.
France arrests over one thousand two hundred
In France, fury over teacher absences and shabby school facilities in poor northern suburbs of Paris snowballed into a nationwide movement against inequality and weak public spending.
The short version
Protests over housing costs and living expenses have spread from Spain and France to Italy, Portugal and Albania, with violent clashes in Milan and Tirana.
