Full Breakdown
Generation Z Protests Sweep Europe: Demands, Data, and Political Fallout
By Drooid · · How we work
In this breakdown
01
The Wave of Demonstrations
Generation Z activists have taken to the streets across dozens of European cities demanding better education, affordable housing, higher-wage jobs, and a fairer distribution of public resources. The unrest began with school-related grievances in France and Belgium and spread to Italy, Spain, Albania, Serbia and beyond. In Serbia, two years of student-led rallies contributed to the electoral defeat of longtime leader Aleksandar Vucic, the first major turnover directly linked to the protests. In France, large-scale riots have damaged shops and prompted police use of stun grenades and water cannons. Demonstrations are also planned in Germany and other countries in the coming weeks.
02
Background & Context
The protests emerge against rising living costs and an aging demographic that concentrates wealth and pension spending. A 2025 EU survey found that 40 % of people aged 16-30 are worried about the cost of living, and 92.7 million EU residents are at risk of poverty or social exclusion, with the highest risk (26.3 %) among 18-24-year-olds. In France, people over 60 own 60 % of national wealth, while public pensions already consume about 14 % of GDP. Across the eurozone, households headed by those under 35 hold only 2.8 % of total net wealth, versus roughly 24 % for households headed by 55- to 64-year-olds.
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03
Data & Statistics
- Cost-of-living surge: Prices for food, energy, transport and household bills have risen 67.2 % in the eurozone, Hungary and the Czech Republic since 2000.
- Wealth gap: Median net wealth of under-35 households is €25,000, compared with €208,000 for 55- to 64-year-old households.
- Risk of exclusion: 7 million EU residents face poverty or social exclusion in 2025; the youngest adults (18-24) have the highest risk at 26.3 %.
04
Official Statements & Responses
French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm after the riots, emphasizing that protesters represent a broad cross-section of society. In Serbia, Vucic publicly conceded defeat, acknowledging the “sense of relief and freedom” expressed by participants. Albanian authorities used tear gas and water cannons on 24 October to disperse crowds in Tirana, while Prime Minister Edi Rama faced criticism over a luxury coastal development project. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni deployed 500 soldiers to Milan and granted them policing powers after shops were looted.
05
Verbatim Quotes
- “Waking up, the first thing we felt was certainly a sense of relief and freedom,” — Stasa Piletic, Serbian protester
- “We’re sick of putting up with empty promises,” — Léna Guerrier, French student activist
- “Our Prime Minister spent 130 days not listening to us,” — Xyke Kurti, 19-year-old architecture student
06
What’s Next
Demonstrations are scheduled for 31 October, with a nationwide strike planned for 5 November. In Spain, a two-day university strike is set for 4-5 November, following a protest on 28 October. German organizers have announced a protest this weekend focused on cost of living, inequality, war and school conditions. The continuation of these actions suggests that Generation Z’s demands will remain a central political issue across Europe in the coming months.