Von Frankreich bis Albanien: Gen Z-Demonstrationen in ganz Europa

French police imposed a ban on demonstrations in specific districts of Paris on Thursday, restricting gatherings near major landmarks such as the Elysee Palace, the Louvre, and the Champs-Elysees. The measure, which took effect between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. local time, follows a period of severe civil disorder that authorities described as some of the worst street unrest in years. The restrictions arrived just as President Emmanuel Macron publicly rejected assertions by United States President Donald Trump that foreign actors and migrants were responsible for the chaos. The immediate trigger for the new prohibitions was a scheduled student protest that Paris police cancelled, citing the organizer’s inability to prevent violence and vandalism. Authorities are preparing for further mobilizations by high school students and the Yellow Vest movement later in the weekend. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu met with mayors from cities heavily affected by the riots, including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon, to coordinate responses. A massive security deployment is planned for upcoming demonstrations, involving additional police reinforcements. The unrest began with student protests against high costs of living and demands for educational reform but rapidly escalated into widespread violence. Masked individuals clashed with law enforcement, looted stores, and set fire to vehicles and bicycles. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez acknowledged on Monday that the authorities had lost control of the situation and failed to anticipate the scale of the violence. Although the past two nights have been relatively quiet compared to previous days, images of destroyed property and ransacked buildings continue to circulate, increasing pressure on the Macron-led government. President Macron addressed the international reaction to the crisis while traveling through the Gulf region. He firmly disputed claims made by Trump and Vice President JD Vance that the riots were driven by migration issues. Trump had alleged on Monday that France was being conquered, looted, and burned down by migrants, jihadists, and communists who hate Christianity and Western civilization. Trump stated on Tuesday that the issue was not education but illegal immigration, claiming these groups hated the French people. Vance added that Western liberals had ignored integration questions when bringing people from the Third World to Europe. Macron characterized these statements as unacceptable and stupid, noting that there was no visible evidence of foreign interference in the events themselves. He suggested that misinformation from abroad had fueled these comments from foreign heads of state. When asked directly if his criticism targeted Trump, Macron replied, among others. He implied that political figures, potentially including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were using the situation for political gain. Netanyahu had previously spoken of an invasion of extremist Islam. Macron noted that some leaders were campaigning at France’s expense, particularly those in election mode in the Middle East or across the Atlantic. The situation in France mirrors broader instability across Europe, where large-scale protests led primarily by Generation Z have occurred in Albania, Belgium, Italy, and Portugal. In Albania, Prime Minister Edi Rama denounced a hybrid war behind the violent demonstrations in Tirana, which followed months of largely peaceful protests against a tourism project linked to the family of US President Trump. Students in Albania demanded better study conditions and the resignation of Rama, who has held power since 2013. University professors joined the students in solidarity marches to condemn police violence. In Italy, the government adopted strict anti-riot measures in response to disturbances in northern cities, including Milan. The decree created a new offense for rioting, increased penalties, and established financial liability for parents whose children engage in looting or vandalism. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated that vandalism and theft are criminal acts, not forms of protest. The Italian decree imposes responsibilities on groups of at least five people who endanger public safety. United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk condemned all acts of violence during recent demonstrations in France and other European countries. He called on all parties to de-escalate tensions and prevent further violence, emphasizing that people have the right to demonstrate peacefully. Turk criticized both the vandalism and what he described as sometimes excessive responses by law enforcement agencies. Macron urged the public to distinguish between legitimate protesters and vandals. He maintained that the core grievances regarding the cost of living and education remain valid, even as he distanced the government from the destructive elements of the unrest. The French administration continues to manage the crisis through a combination of legal restrictions on assembly and diplomatic pushback against external narratives that attribute domestic social tensions to foreign influence or immigration policies. The coming weekend is expected to test the effectiveness of the enhanced security protocols deployed in major urban centers.