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Clashes broke out between protesters and the police in Brussels and Lige in Belgium on Saturday as agitation against the rising cost of living rattled parts of Europe, Euronews reported.
According to Euronews, police used water cannons against protesters, who were seen throwing objects, including water bottles, at the security forces. Belgian Interior Minister Bernard Quintin described it as pure and simple violence, organised and repeated to destabilise our society and termed the protesters as rioters. NO, what is unfolding in Brussels is no longer mere protest! It is pure and simple violence, organised and repeated to destabilise our society. The federal police are in support of the local police. All necessary means will be used to restore order in the face of the rioters, Quintin posted on X. Agitation in France, which began with protests against the condition of school infrastructure and alleged budget cuts in the education sector, turned into a massive protest over rising fuel prices and cost of living. French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told France 24 that 5,50,000 people took part in the protests against dwindling purchasing power, with 1,10,000 demonstrators in the capital. Police have arrested 400 protesters over vandalism charges, he said. French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed a firm response to violence amid the ongoing protests, driven primarily by students who, over the past few weeks, have engaged in violent demonstrations to denounce what they call deplorable school conditions and excessive police force. In a post on X, Macron vowed strict action against the protestors who were involved in vandalism and looting, expressing solidarity against "sowers of chaos." "No room for violence in our Republic. Those who have broken, attacked the prefectures as well as businesses, looted even our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished. To the law enforcement forces, guarantors of the right to demonstrate, I express the support of the Nation. We will all stand united against the sowers of chaos, who seek only to bring down our institutions and prevent those who peacefully express their demands from doing so," he wrote. French media has reported that former 'Yellow Vest' figures are set to join the protests in support of high-school students. 'Yellow Vest' movement began in 2018 in France, bringing thousands of people to the streets against rising fuel prices and economic inequality. The protests were met with rubber bullets fired by the police, injuring more than 2,500 protesters and 1,800 police personnel in the clashes. Meanwhile in Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni issued a firm condemnation of violent demonstrations across major cities, declaring that while peaceful protest is fundamental to democratic society, political violence and destruction will not be tolerated. In a statement posted on X addressing recent nationwide rallies, Meloni drew a sharp contrast between peaceful demonstrators and violent agitators who turned city streets into scenes of unrest. I have great respect for the thousands of people who today demonstrated peacefully, including those who took part in the mobilisation called by the CGIL, which also saw the participation of left-wing leaders, Meloni said. Whatever the ideas for which one demonstrates, participation is the foundation of any healthy democracy. The demonstrations organised by the "Italy in the Square" committee devolved into severe clashes, mass detentions, and property destruction, Italian broadcaster Rai News reported. (ANI)
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