Protests erupt across Europe

From France to Greece and beyond, Europe's streets are witnessing a new wave of demonstrations, as workers, students and trade unions challenge their governments over rising living costs, stagnant wages, unaffordable housing and deteriorating public services.

But these domestic grievances are unfolding against a much wider geopolitical backdrop. The US-led war against Iran, the disruption to energy markets, and maritime trade through the Strait of Hormuz, have added to the economic pressure facing European households, compounded by the war in Ukraine and by domestic policies that have themselves fueled the protests sweeping the continent.

French President Emmanuel Macron has acknowledged the impact of these international developments on fuel prices, even as European governments continue to increase defense spending in response to growing security concerns.

In France, more than 600,000 people have taken to the streets in a nationwide mobilization, while students and teachers in Greece are demanding better-funded public education and relief from the rising cost of living.

So, are ordinary Europeans increasingly paying the price of geopolitical conflicts and security policies through higher energy bills, strained public services and tighter household budgets? And are governments addressing these pressures, or asking their populations to shoulder the consequences?

We’ll be exploring these questions with our guests in this edition of the program.