Authorities in Germany and France are preparing for significant civil unrest this weekend, with major demonstrations expected to coincide with Halloween. In Germany, approximately 150,000 protesters have registered to participate in rallies across 30 cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt, and Cologne. Law enforcement agencies are planning to deploy thousands of additional officers nationwide to maintain order as businesses, including luxury shops, take measures to board up windows against potential looting. Some luxury jewellery shops and clothing stores have boarded up windows to protect against potential looting or violence.
The German protests are organized by a group known as “GenZ regelt!”—which translates to “Gen Z has got this!”—to highlight widespread grievances.
Participants are raising concerns over the high cost of living, deteriorating school infrastructure, government austerity measures, and a perceived disregard from political leaders regarding the future of the younger generation.
These issues reflect a broader trend of youth-led demonstrations sweeping across Europe, characterized by complaints of rising prices and limited career prospects.
The situation remains particularly tense in France, where the government has authorized the deployment of 70,000 police officers across the country. Paris officials have ordered the closure of more than 40 metro stations, and authorities have officially banned the use of face-covering masks at these gatherings. France’s interior minister has warned of a “very high risk” of disorder throughout the weekend.
These upcoming protests follow several weeks of intermittent clashes between demonstrators and police. During previous weekends, anti-government marches concerning economic conditions and education standards escalated into significant riots and looting in various French cities. Alain Di Crescenzo, president of the French Chamber of Commerce, noted that the business community is deeply concerned about the economic impact of these recurring demonstrations.
“Shopkeepers can’t wait for Saturday to be over,” Di Crescenzo stated during an interview with the broadcaster France Inter. He further noted that the timing of the Halloween holiday complicates security efforts, as the prevalence of masks makes it increasingly difficult for authorities to manage potential unrest and identify participants who may be engaging in violent activities. He said, “because we’re going to have people wearing masks”, halloween “is not helping matters”.
