Banning Gen Z protests would be the wrong response, commentary argues

Although unrest has also occurred in Germany, responding to youth demonstrations solely with repression would be misguided. The federal government should instead engage with young people and their legitimate concerns.

2 Nov 2026

A scene from the Gen Z protests in France in early October offers a different perspective on the unrest surrounding the demonstrations. In Besançon, police officers removed their helmets and lowered their shields while facing around 2,000 protesters. The crowd applauded, and no stones were thrown.

Those images contrast with reports of violence, riots, looting and clashes between demonstrators and police. Germany has also experienced disturbances, a development described as bitter in the commentary.

However, the unrest should not lead to a response based solely on repression or calls to ban the demonstrations. Instead, the federal government should reach out to young people who are expressing legitimate concerns and seek engagement with them.

Sources: Süddeutsche Zeitung.