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Can European leaders fix the cost-of-living crisis?
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Published 10/22/2026 4:58:21 AM
Can European leaders fix the cost-of-living crisis? | Inflation
Across Europe, an autumn of anger is taking hold.
In France, student protests over overcrowded classrooms and teacher shortages have grown into a broader public outcry.
In recent weeks, separate protests have also erupted in Belgium, Italy, Portugal, Spain and Albania.
The grievances differ, from unaffordable housing and low wages to rising fuel costs, education and political accountability.
But the frustration is increasingly shared: paying more, getting less, and struggling to afford a decent life, even with a job.
Governments face demands for relief while wrestling with high debt, rising borrowing costs and, in several countries, looming elections.
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France is facing a growing crisis of confidence in its public finances.
Its borrowing costs have reached their highest level in more than two decades.
Investors now demand higher yields on French government bonds than on Italian or Greek ones.
With public debt nearing 120 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and a deficit above 5 percent, the government is under pressure to rein in spending.
But protesters are demanding more investment in education.
With parliament deeply divided and a presidential election approaching, agreeing on a solution is proving difficult.
The concern now is whether France’s troubles could spread across the Eurozone.
