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German Protests Draw Over 160,000 on Halloween
Confirmed
In Short: Over 160,000 people across Germany are expected to join youth-led protests on Halloween, demanding better education, lower living costs, stronger climate action, and an end to mandatory military service.
Organized by the youth initiative 'Gen Z regelt' — roughly 'Gen Z’s got this' — the protests are scheduled in over 30 cities, including Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Frankfurt, and Hamburg.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez warns of a 'very high risk' of disorder, especially after dark on Halloween, as German authorities deploy approximately 1,500 additional police officers in Berlin.
In Berlin, around 10,000 protesters, mainly pupils, students, and their parents, are expected at the Brandenburg Gate, with another smaller gathering planned in the Mitte district.
German authorities are concerned that extremist groups may exploit the movement, with parts of the far-left extremist scene and some groups linked to foreign extremist movements joining efforts to mobilize support.
The protests highlight the growing tensions between the youth and administrative branches over the handling of youth grievances and the protection of public order.
Background
Germany and France are bracing for potential protests this Halloween weekend, with concerns over rising prices and youth unemployment.
What's confirmed
- Protests are also spreading across Europe, with demonstrations planned in Germany, Spain, and other countries.
- "The government has offered no response to our concerns other than to continue making cuts and piling further burdens upon us," said Steve, an 18-year-old due to speak at a rally in Munich, addressing Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
- The German protests, organised by campaign group Gen Z regelt (Gen Z takes charge), are planned in 34 cities including Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich.
- "We will continue to exercise our fundamental right to assemble until you stop ignoring us."
- "France must not be held up as a model in this regard." In Berlin, some businesses along the luxury Kurfuerstendamm shopping boulevard boarded up windows and planned early closures ahead of the demonstrations amid concerns about possible unrest.
- German authorities say they expect Saturday's demonstrations, which coincide with Halloween festivities, to be largely peaceful but have warned of attempts by extremist groups to exploit the movement.
- Parts of Germany’s far-left extremist scene and some groups linked to foreign extremist movements have joined efforts to mobilise support, according to the federal interior ministry.
- “We all have those images from France in our minds - looting, burning houses, burning police vehicles, and attacks on police officers,” said Roman Poseck, interior minister for the state of Hesse, whose capital is Germany’s financial hub, Frankfurt.
What's still developing
- In Germany, a youth initiative called “Gen Z regelt” — roughly “Gen Z’s got this” — urged protests in some 30 cities “for education, health, climate protection and an affordable life,” and against any return of military conscription.
- More than 160,000 people across Germany are expected to join demonstrations on Saturday, with organisers having called for rallies in over 30 cities, including Berlin, Cologne, Munich, Frankfurt and Hamburg, as a youth-led movement inspired by protests elsewhere in Europe takes to the streets to demand better education, lower living costs, stronger climate action and an end to mandatory military service.
- German authorities are worried the protests, taking place on Halloween, could be marred by the same kind of violence seen elsewhere in Europe, with the Berlin police having announced the deployment of approximately 1,500 additional police officers on October 31, with the police having warned against extremists and having said they are preparing for possible disruptions, with the biggest single rally having been expected in Stuttgart, where more than 11,000 participants are expected.
- France is bracing for a third weekend of protests coinciding with Halloween, with shops boarded up and authorities scrambling to prevent a repeat of the street violence that swept the country two weeks ago.
- Europe is bracing for a weekend of protests and potential unrest, with police on alert in France and Spain and large demonstrations expected in Germany, as several countries prepare for Halloween -related gatherings.
- Spanish fact-checking organisation Maldita.es identified online calls for Halloween demonstrations in 46 cities across nine countries: Spain, Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Portugal.
- A Telegram group operating under the name Blocus BCN has since circulated messages calling for another gathering on Oct. 31, encouraging participants to wear black clothing and Halloween masks to avoid being identified by police, as per the outlet.
- German authorities expect Saturday’s protests, taking place alongside Halloween celebrations, to remain mostly peaceful.
- The protests gathered pace in late September as Mr Macron's minority government launched 2027 budget talks.
- Germany and France are preparing for potential protests over the weekend that could coincide with Halloween festivities.
- “Shopkeepers can’t wait for Saturday to be over,” Di Crescenzo told broadcaster France Inter.