Europe youth anger grows over housing and job fears

Young people have joined large protests across Europe, with anger focused on living costs, expensive housing, low pay, job uncertainty and climate concerns.

Demonstrations in France, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Germany brought hundreds of thousands of people into the streets at the weekend. School and university students have been prominent in the movement.

In France, high school students began protesting in mid-September to demand better facilities and changes to the university admissions system. French protests drew at least 550,000 people on October 17, and mostly peaceful demonstrations were later overshadowed by looting, arson and clashes with police.

Historian Sylvain Boulouque said France acted as a catalyst for a wider European movement. Belgian sociologist Geoffrey Pleyers said housing had become a central issue in countries including Spain, Portugal and Greece because it was tied to purchasing power and inequality.

Political scientist Mariam Martinez-Bascunan told Spain's RTVE that uncertainty, more than poverty, was driving discontent. In Germany, the possible return of military service amid tensions with Russia has also drawn some young people into protests.

The protests come as several European countries prepare for elections over the next year. Researchers cited in the item said many young people feel ignored by institutions and believe society has become more unequal.