German Gen Z groups plan protests in 23 cities on 31 October over cuts and conscription

Centre · 1A youth initiative has called simultaneous protests in 23 German cities on Saturday, 31 October, and organisers say more than 140,000 students and young people have registered online. 1 Centre · 1Deutsche Welle gave a slightly lower figure, around 134,000 registrations by Tuesday, and noted the number could rise before the weekend. 2 Centre · 2Anadolu Agency names the group "Gen Z steht auf" (Gen Z stands up), while Deutsche Welle calls it "Gen Z regelt" (Gen Z sorts it); both describe a Gen Z campaign calling protests in 23 cities. 1 2

Centre · 1According to Anadolu, main events are planned in Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt and Cologne, with local actions in 18 other cities; Cologne has the most online pledges (over 12,000), followed by Frankfurt (just under 11,000), Hamburg and Berlin (over 8,000 each) and Munich (nearly 7,000). 1 Centre · 1The demonstrations are due to start at 2 pm under the slogan "Our future is in our hands" and focus on cuts to education and social spending, rising living costs and government plans for military conscription; the organisers' position paper calls for investment in education, social security, healthcare and affordable living. 1 Centre · 1Deutsche Welle describes the wider grievances of Gen Z, broadly those born between 1995 and 2010, as including climate change, the widening gap between rich and poor, and worries about educational prospects. 2

Centre · 1Quentin Gärtner, 19, a former secretary-general of the Federal Student Conference, told DW that young people have "run out of patience with the education system", citing declining school performance, cuts to teaching positions and under-invested school buildings. 2 Centre · 1Co-initiator Akram Selo said the protests will be peaceful and the group distances itself from any violence; organisers added that "Oct. 31 is only the beginning." 1 Centre · 1Politicians, particularly in Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU, fear a repeat of recent unrest in France, where protests that began largely peacefully led to burned cars, a torched town hall in Limoges and tear gas and arrests in several cities. 2

Centre · 1CDU domestic affairs spokesperson Alexander Throm said such scenes "must be prevented at all costs" and warned that far-left groups and criminals from immigrant communities could "hijack" the demonstrations, while CDU intelligence-oversight chair Marc Henrichmann said the far-left scene is internationally connected. 2 Centre · 1Konstanz sociologist Sebastian Koos told DW he does not expect unrest on the French scale because the German protests are planned, registered and stress non-violence, though he does not rule out extremists exploiting them and says police preparation is important. 2 Centre · 1Bild, citing security sources and as relayed by Anadolu, reported that police nationwide have received deployment orders, with water cannons and armoured vehicles on standby in major cities, helicopters and possibly drones overhead, and plans to intercept violence-prone extremists at train stations. 1

Centre · 1Opposition figures have voiced understanding: Green co-leader Felix Banaszak told ZDF the intergenerational contract "is no longer working" and said the state seems to offer young people only letters asking 18-year-olds to consider joining the military, as Germany seeks to expand the Bundeswehr and considers reintroducing national service. 2