Political and social unrest in France and Italy

Political and social unrest continues to escalate in France and Italy. In France, student protests over educational conditions—including the need for school renovations and the replacement of absent teachers—have gained significant momentum. On October 8, approximately 71,500 people participated in nationwide demonstrations, with one-third of those protesters located in Paris. Activist Greta Thunberg joined demonstrators in Saint-Denis, criticizing the police as “extremely violent” and arguing that a lack of investment in schools is robbing youth of their future.

The nature of the unrest has increasingly turned violent. In France, reports indicate student protests have been accompanied by arson, assaults on school staff, and the looting of Jewish businesses in Marseille alongside the vandalism of a synagogue in Paris. Observers have noted the presence of antisemitic slogans and symbols associated with Islamist ideologies, leading to debates over whether the unrest is driven by social frustration or the involvement of migrant populations and Palestinian solidarity movements.

In Italy, political tensions remain high. While Matteo Renzi of Italia Viva has asserted his party’s strategic importance, internal dynamics within the center-left are also shifting. Analysts suggest Democratic Party Secretary Elly Schlein is making strategic moves to limit the ambitions of Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte.

Social unrest has expanded through labor movements, with the CGIL trade union announcing a general strike for November 20. Following violent unrest and looting in Milan, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the destruction of property. In response, the Italian government introduced a new security decree that implements multi-year prison sentences for participants in violent groups, expands preventive arrests, and increases legal consequences for minors and their parents.