Protests over the cost of living, strained public services and political accountability swept across France, Italy, Belgium and Albania on Saturday, with demonstrators clashing with police in several cities and authorities deploying tear gas, water cannons and large numbers of officers to contain unrest.
The demonstrations reflected different domestic grievances but a common pattern of mounting public frustration, particularly over education, economic hardship and trust in political leadership. France saw the largest mobilisation, with more than 400,000 people taking to the streets nationwide, according to the Interior Ministry, while Albania witnessed a fresh escalation of anti-government protests after days of violence in its capital, Tirana.
