Gen Z-led demonstrations took place in 34 German cities on Saturday, calling for better education, relief from rising living costs and an end to compulsory military service. Early police figures suggested turnout was well below the roughly 182,000 registrations cited by organisers of the “Gen Z regelt” campaign.
Figures reported by Reuters during the afternoon put the combined number of protesters in Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich at around 6,000. Participation varied by city and continued to develop through the day; a full nationwide tally was not immediately available.
In Cologne, police halted the planned march after some participants covered their faces and pyrotechnics were used. The gathering was allowed to continue as a stationary rally along the Rhine. Attendance remained below the 15,000 people announced in advance, although police had not provided a final figure.
Demonstrators called for better conditions in schools and universities, action to make living costs more affordable and opposition to plans for compulsory military service. Germany’s national student umbrella organisation said it shared young people’s concerns but had distanced itself from the campaign’s organisers. It is planning a separate demonstration for November 20.
Foto :Jens.K
