From France and Belgium to Tunisia... anti-government demonstrations amid riots and clashes

At a time when many French cities are witnessing crowds of protesters taking to the streets, European countries and others around the world are witnessing anti-government demonstrations on Saturday. In the Belgian capital, Brussels, students demonstrated against the current state of the country's education system.

Some protesters held signs referring to the 1992 Studio Ghibli film “Porco Rosso,” including phrases such as “It is better to be a pig than a fascist.” One of the demonstrators also raised a sign that read: “We apologize for the inconvenience, we are trying to save our future.”

Pictures taken during the protests showed police officers clashing with demonstrators, with one officer seen waving a baton, while some protesters overturned a car. In the capital, Tirana, Albania, garbage containers were set on fire during student protests, with many protesters covering their faces with masks and hoods (“balaclavas”).

A photo was also taken of a person throwing a Molotov cocktail at riot police, who responded by using water cannons. Other protesters were seen waving Albanian flags.

According to Reuters, Marjana Kučiko, a 25-year-old member of the Albanian Parliament, participated in the protests alongside the demonstrators. In a video posted on English-language social media, Koçiko addressed Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama, in which she spoke about “injustice, corruption and lack of democracy” in the country.

Kochiko noted that students in Albania were organizing “peaceful protests that lasted for months” before the outbreak of recent events, denouncing what she described as police violence against student demonstrators. In Tunis, thousands of people went out in demonstrations against President Kais Saied, accusing him of mismanaging the economy and undermining democracy, according to Reuters.

During the protests led by the Tunisian General Labor Union, one of the participants raised a sign that read: “We are skipping our lessons to teach you a lesson.” Many also waved Tunisian flags, while others raised flags bearing the logo of the Tunisian General Labor Union, and some demonstrators carried banners demanding freedom of the press.