On the 14th (local time), students and workers protested against soaring prices and poor educational conditions in France for the fifth consecutive week.
In Portugal, tens of thousands of people protested against housing shortages.
According to AFP and Associated Press, protests led by student groups, labor unions, and social groups were held in cities across the country, including the capital Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, and Strasbourg.
The Ministry of Home Affairs estimated that 106,000 people participated across the country. It was the smallest weekend protest ever held, down from 146,000 last week.
Student groups estimated that 200,000 people participated.
Protesters held up French flags and signs that read, “No justice, no peace,” “SOS for living expenses,” “Ruining education, ruining health, ruining culture,” and “Rather than listening to students, they just block them.” A large puppet depicting President Emmanuel Macron in a comical manner also appeared at the protest.
“What the government has given us is bread crumbs,” said Benjamin Bal, a member of the Yellow Vests. “We want the whole bakery.”
Meanwhile, labor unions and student groups have pointed out that the government's measures to improve the educational environment and reduce living hardships, such as raising the minimum wage, are only 'crumbs'.
Demonstrators also protested the police bill being considered in Congress. As teenagers were seriously injured one after another during high school student protests, controversy arose over excessive police response, which served as a driving force for the spread of protests.
The police bill being promoted includes provisions that require police use of weapons to be based on self-defense. Supporters, including presidential front-runner Marine Le Pen's far-right National Coalition (RN), defend the bill, saying police should not automatically be suspected of using disproportionate force, but activists say it is a "license to kill."
On this day, several protesters held signs saying, “We oppose giving police a license to kill.”
The French government is also pursuing a property damage compensation law that would make people liable for looting and property damage that occurred during protests even if they were not directly involved. This bill was approved by the Senate at the end of last month and is awaiting review by the House of Representatives.
Adrien (20), who participated in the protest, said, “We are afraid when we go out to protest,” and expressed concern, “If their immunity is strengthened by this bill, we will become more afraid.”
This protest was largely peaceful, but at the end of the protest, in some areas such as Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Nantes, some protesters set fire to trash cans and police sprayed tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Authorities said 121 people had been arrested across the country as of 5 p.m. that day.
In Portugal, tens of thousands of people took to the streets to protest housing shortages in more than 30 cities, including Lisbon and Porto. It is the largest scale since tent and street protests began last month.
Protesters of various ages, from teenagers to the elderly, marched through the streets holding signs with phrases such as “Our right to housing will not be stolen” and chanted “Lower the monthly rent and raise the salary.”
Student Matile Cuna (20) said, “I just want a place to live while studying, but I can’t find a decent house. The price is a level that no one can afford.”
According to an announcement last week by Eurostat, a statistical agency of the European Union (EU), Portugal had the highest rate of increase in housing prices relative to income, comparing changes in housing prices and household income between 2015 and 2025, at 61%. Next were the Netherlands (34%), Hungary (27%), the Czech Republic (26%), and Spain (25%).
Additionally, according to the Portuguese government, housing rents have also surged 68% since 2020.
