In the past few months, many European countries have seen one protest after another. People of their own country are taking to the streets over government policies, inflation and other issues. France and Italy are big examples of this, where people are protesting for their demands. Issues such as education, inflation and basic amenities are coming up in these protests. These issues are somehow connected with the ideology of the left.

However, this is not the first time. Be it the student movement in France in 1968 or the ‘Hot Autumn’ movement in Italy in 1969, people belonging to leftist ideologies played an important role in these movements. Left parties and trade unions have also been active in recent demonstrations. They are raising issues such as higher salaries, cheaper public services, relief from inflation and higher taxes on the rich.

In the midst of this debate, the statement of Pope Leo XIV has also been discussed. In April this year, he told employees of Italy’s pension agency INPS that there is no shortage of wealth in the world, although poverty is growing and wealth is concentrated in the hands of a few. He said that the cause of inequality is not lack of resources, but lack of their proper and equitable distribution. The question is, how did economic discontent in Europe give left-wing organizations an opportunity to reactivate, and is this the beginning of a larger political shift?

France: Leftist entry into movement, government alleges

The current protests in France began against teacher shortages and dilapidated school buildings. But gradually, issues like inflation, fuel prices and reduction in government expenditure were also added to it. Demonstrations were held across the country on October 17. Here the labor union CGT and the leftist party La France Embaud (LFI) came out in support of the movement.

There was also a political controversy regarding the role of the Left in this movement. The development is significant in French politics as President Emmanuel Macron’s camp is considered centrist and economically liberal. Left parties, on the other hand, are demanding more spending on public services and reducing economic inequality. The left is also trying to convert support for these movements into votes ahead of the 2027 presidential election in France.

Italy: Students, trade unions and Maloney’s government face off

In Italy, protests by students and labor unions against Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney’s right-wing government are growing. Students are protesting against poor condition of schools, low spending on education and high energy prices. At the same time, CGIL, the country’s largest trade union, held a rally of around one lakh people in Rome a few days ago. Leaders of the centre-left Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement also participated. CGIL has called for a general strike on November 20.

However, not every demonstration here can be called a leftist movement. But supporters of leftist parties are also among the prominent faces of the opposition. Farmers, fishermen and truck drivers are blocking roads in southern Italy to protest against rising fuel prices. Their main issue is the rising cost of doing business. Activists associated with the leftist party Porte al Popolo in Turin also joined the demonstration and drew parallels with the movement in France.

Why is the Left getting a chance?

The biggest reason behind these demonstrations is the widening gap between people’s income and expenditure. Expensive rents, rising energy prices and poor public services are putting pressure on family budgets. When people feel that essentials are becoming more expensive compared to their earnings, they demand relief and more social security from the government. These issues have been at the center of leftist politics.

The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer.

Pope Leo XIV also expressed concern about inflation and economic inequality. Citing the example of Elon Musk, he questioned the huge salaries and allowances given to top executives. The data also shows that the wealth gap between the world’s rich and poor is wide.

According to the World Inequality Report 2026, the world’s richest 10% own 75% of the total wealth, while the bottom half of the population owns only 2%. There is also a big difference in terms of earnings. The richest 10% of the world’s population receives 53% of total income, while the bottom 50% of the population receives only 8%. This means that a large share of the world’s wealth and income is held by the richest sections of society.

What did Karl Marx and Martin Luther King say?

According to Karl Marx’s theory of class conflict, when a large share of capital and profit in a society becomes concentrated in the hands of a few, the conflict between the capitalist and the working class may increase. At the same time, Martin Luther King Jr. criticized economic injustice, saying that the luxuries of some classes should not be promoted at the expense of the basic needs of the majority. Both of these ideas can be understood in the context of ongoing protests against inflation and economic inequality in Europe today.

Overall, the picture of economic discontent is clearer than the return of the left in Europe. Left-wing organizations are linking this anger to debates over pay, social security and economic inequality. It remains to be seen whether they are able to convert the support they get on the streets into electoral victories or whether public anger against inflation also strengthens right-wing politics.