Could the CRISIS in France Spread around Europe?

Nov 7, 2026 | For weeks, France has been gripped by huge protests which have left the country in chaos and its government in a full blown crisis. What started as student protests, have grown into nationwide demonstrations - and now strikes - in protest at the cost of living, pay and public services.

But the response from the government has been controversial, with many criticising what they see as heavy-handed tactics by police.

In this episode of the Fourcast, Alex Thomson is joined by Alice De Brito, the Vice President of the National Students’ Union of France, as well as Steve Erlanger, the chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe for The New York Times. They discuss whether the chaos could pave the way for the far-right, if France can pay for the protesters’ demands and whether the unrest could spread around Europe.