French and German 'Halloween protests' lead to riots in Paris and Cologne

This weekend saw a significant decrease in protester numbers in France, with 320,000 demonstrators reported, down from 410,000 and 550,000 in previous weeks. While protests in Paris began peacefully, tensions escalated with masked individuals clashing with police, resulting in injuries and arrests. Similar protests occurred in Germany, where thousands gathered in over thirty cities, including Berlin and Stuttgart, with some unrest reported. The demonstrations, driven by the Gen Z initiative, focus on demands for better education, cost of living measures, and climate action. In the Netherlands, Gen Z protests also took place, mostly ending without incident, except for a brief police intervention in The Hague.