Germany and France are preparing for large youth-led demonstrations on Saturday, Oct. 31, as Halloween weekend overlaps with planned rallies over living costs, schools and public spending^1,2,3.

Organisers in Germany said more than 160,000 people were expected in 34 cities, including Berlin, Frankfurt and Munich, under the banner Gen Z regelt^2,3. Al Jazeera, citing AFP, put registered turnout at about 150,000 in about 30 cities, including Cologne rather than Munich in its city list¹.

The German movement's stated complaints include high living costs, poorly maintained schools, government spending cuts and, organisers say, decisions made with little regard for younger people¹. CNA reported the group also opposes compulsory military service and wants more education investment².

German authorities said they expected Saturday's events to be largely peaceful but warned that extremist groups might try to exploit them². Hesse Interior Minister Roman Poseck said images of looting and attacks on police in France should not be treated as a model². Some luxury shops in Berlin, Frankfurt and other cities boarded windows; Berlin businesses along Kurfuerstendamm planned early closures^1,2.

France is entering a third weekend of nationwide protests, with 70,000 police officers to be deployed^1,3. More than 40 Paris metro stations are due to close, and authorities said face-covering masks would not be allowed at demonstrations¹. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez described a very high risk of disorder and said the response to trouble would be firm^1,3.

French unrest two weeks earlier included looting and damage to shops and public buildings after demonstrations over living costs and school conditions^1,3. RTÉ said students, trade unions and a revived Yellow Vest movement have joined protests that gathered pace as the government opened 2027 budget talks, with public debt near 120 percent of output³.

The French government is advancing a measure that would make rioters liable for up to 10,000 euros ($11,000) in damage they or associated groups cause; rights groups and some lawyers say it could affect peaceful protest, RTÉ reported³. The U.S. Embassy advised travellers to avoid areas where demonstrations are planned³.

Alain Di Crescenzo, president of France's Chamber of Commerce, told France Inter that shopkeepers wanted Saturday over and that Halloween masks were not helping¹. How large Saturday's German crowds become, and whether French cities see a repeat of earlier violence, was not yet known as the day began.