Thousands join Germany’s Gen Z Halloween demonstrations

Thousands of people joined Halloween demonstrations across Germany on Saturday, October 31, as the Gen Z regelt campaign called for action on living costs, education and the possibility of compulsory military service. Rallies were planned in 34 cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, following weeks of youth-led protests elsewhere in Europe. Organizers had forecast more than 160,000 participants nationwide, with some estimates exceeding 170,000. By Saturday afternoon, police in Frankfurt, Munich and Berlin reported 6,000 protesters across those cities, while the organizers’ website listed around 36,000 there. Those partial figures do not establish a final nationwide attendance total. The campaign says young people face rising living costs and underfunded schools and universities. It wants more investment in education, opposes compulsory military service and has raised concerns about a proposed voluntary service model that organizers fear could lead to conscription. Some protest messaging also cited government spending cuts and the lack of political attention to young people’s futures. German authorities said they expected the demonstrations to be largely peaceful but...