Gen Z protests reach Germany as thousands join Halloween rallies over costs and education

Demonstrations across 34 cities

Gen Z regelt, whose name means “Gen Z takes charge” in German, organised demonstrations planned in 34 cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich. The campaign says young people are facing rising costs and calls for greater investment in education.

Police in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin reported 6,000 protesters on Saturday afternoon. Organisers had initially expected 182,000, while their website listed around 36,000 participants. These figures differ, and the report gives no single overall turnout count.

Campaign calls for change

Organisers say the demonstrations address growing pressure on younger generations in Germany, Europe’s largest economy. Their demands include better education, lower living costs and opposition to compulsory military service.

Steve, an 18-year-old scheduled to speak at a rally in Munich, said the government had not answered young people’s concerns and had continued making cuts and adding burdens. He said protesters would keep exercising their right to assemble until they were no longer ignored.

Students cite campus issues

Amy Kirchhoff, secretary-general of BSK, said the organisation was distancing itself from Gen Z regelt but not from students, whose concerns she described as legitimate. Sean Baker, a student at the Technical University of Berlin, said he planned to join the demonstrations to draw attention to the poor condition of campus buildings.