DOMINANT ANGLE
Lisbon is keeping track of the arrests and police deployment from the French day of action, and is then following the spread of the protests to Italy, with an eye on its own camps.
Dominant angle identified — does not reflect unanimity of this country’s media
KEY POINTS
- 01
The French Interior Ministry reports 1,314 arrests, 53 police officers injured, and 24 businesses looted (SAPO).
- 02
Between 410,000 protesters according to the government and 800,000 according to the CGT, including 110,000 to 250,000 in Paris; 70,000 agents mobilized.
- 03
In Italy, demonstrations in Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples, Bologna, and Florence against the high cost of living, with clashes in Bologna and Turin (RTP).
ANALYSIS
Lisbon, October 25, 2026. The Portuguese press recounts the day of Saturday, October 24, in France, first through its police report. L'Observador headlines with "quase mil detidos", then SAPO updates: the Ministry of the Interior reports 1,314 arrests, 53 police officers injured, 75 investigations related to fires, and 24 looted businesses.
The participation remains disputed: between 410,000 people according to the government and 800,000 according to the CGT, with 110,000 to 250,000 in Paris. ECO, citing Reuters, recalls that 70,000 agents were mobilized, 10,000 more than on October 17, after a wave of vandalism and looting that had raised doubts about the executive's ability to maintain order. Parisian merchants protected their storefronts with panels.
According to RTP, the Parisian procession, from the Porte d'Italie to the Porte de Vincennes, took place without incident. Around 5:30 pm, "more than 500 vandals" attacked the police on the Cours de Vincennes, according to the police prefecture; tear gas and water cannons were used. Student Gaël told the Lusa agency that he came to show that "we don't let ourselves be intimidated by the police".
Minister of the Interior Laurent Nuñez judges that the 289 demonstrations "went well" and denounces the presence of militants from the "ultraleft". He claims that the device prevented many looting incidents and that there were no targeted attacks on public buildings, unlike on October 17.
The Italian aspect is covered by RTP: thousands of people marched in Rome, Milan, Turin, Naples, Bologna, and Florence against the high cost of living, housing prices, and military spending. In Bologna, stones and bottles were thrown at water cannons; in Turin, a photo of Giorgia Meloni was burned and a banner reading "they have reduced the people to hunger" was displayed; in Milan, 1,400 police officers and 500 soldiers were deployed.
L'Observador finally notes that Lisbon and Porto also saw gatherings with tents, deemed peaceful at the Rossio. The police warned that the tents would be removed after 0:30 am if the protesters did not take them down, and concerts animated the square during the Popular Assembly. The French ministry describes a "calm" night after the mobilization.
SOURCES (4)
- ObservadorMEDIUM
- SAPO NotíciasMEDIUM
- RTP NotíciasMEDIUM
- ECOMEDIUM
