What’s making Europe so angry? The frustration behind the protests

Protesters march through central Paris amid fires, smoke, police deployments and clashes during nationwide demonstrations against the high cost of living, on October 17, 2026 in Paris, France. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty ImagesAnger over the cost of living and pressure on public services has brought hundreds of thousands of protesters onto streets across several European countries, with grievances ranging from expensive housing to poor conditions in schools and universities.France saw the largest demonstrations at the weekend, with more than 500,000 people marching. Most protested peacefully, but some looted and vandalized shops, set fire to city halls and attacked police officers.Separate protests also took place in Italy, Spain, Portugal and Albania on Saturday and Sunday. Their immediate triggers differed, although high fuel and energy costs formed part of the backdrop in several countries. The wars in Iran and Ukraine have pushed diesel prices sharply higher across the continent.There's no one "single trigger" for the riots, Capital Economics' Chief Europe Economist Andrew Kenningham told CNBC. The increase in energy costs may be playing a role, but the increase is smaller than i...