Berlin (TDI): More than 160,000 people are expected to take part in demonstrations across Germany on Saturday as a youth-led movement inspired by protests elsewhere in Europe mobilizes to demand better education, lower living costs and an end to compulsory military service.
The demonstrations, organized by the campaign group Gen Z regelt (Gen Z Takes Charge), are planned in 34 cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich. The rallies come amid a wider wave of Gen Z-led activism across Europe, where young people have increasingly taken to the streets over political, economic and social concerns.
In Serbia, student-led activism played a significant role in challenging the country’s long-time leadership through electoral politics, while demonstrations in France have at times escalated into rioting and looting.
German authorities expect Saturday’s protests, which coincide with Halloween celebrations, to remain largely peaceful. However, officials have warned that extremist groups could attempt to exploit the demonstrations and turn them into violent confrontations.
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According to Germany’s Federal Interior Ministry, sections of the country’s far-left extremist scene, along with some groups associated with foreign extremist movements, have participated in efforts to mobilize support for the protests.
Roman Poseck, interior minister of the state of Hesse, warned against a repeat of the unrest witnessed in France. “We all have those images from France in our minds — looting, burning houses, burning police vehicles, and attacks on police officers,” Poseck said.
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He added that France should not be presented as a model for the German demonstrations, stressing the need to prevent violence and disorder, Reuters reported.
Security concerns have already prompted some businesses to take precautionary measures. In Berlin, shops along the luxury Kurfürstendamm shopping boulevard have boarded up windows and announced plans for early closures ahead of the rallies. Similar preparations were reported in Frankfurt, where businesses sought to protect their premises against possible unrest.
For the organizers, the demonstrations are primarily about mounting economic and social pressures facing younger generations in Europe’s largest economy.
The movement is calling for increased investment in education, better living conditions and an end to compulsory military service. Its supporters argue that government policies have failed to address the challenges confronting young people, including rising living costs and deteriorating public services.
