Rising fuel prices are adding to economic pressures on households and businesses across Europe, fuelling public protests and providing fresh momentum to far-right political parties ahead of elections in countries including France, Italy and Poland.
The latest energy shock has compounded years of economic strain following the pandemic and Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. With transport, heating and other essential costs rising, governments are facing growing public frustration over living standards and economic policy.
In parts of Europe, protests over fuel prices and public services have developed into wider demonstrations against governments, while some far-right parties are calling for renewed energy ties with Russia as a way to reduce costs.
Fuel Costs Add to Europe’s Economic Pressures
In the southern Italian town of Gela, farmers have taken to the streets with tractors flying the Sicilian flag. The demonstrations reflect mounting frustration among agricultural workers struggling to afford the fuel needed to operate machinery.
Farmers say rising operating costs are making it increasingly difficult to sustain their businesses, with one protest banner declaring: “We cultivate the land, we harvest debts.”
“We are completely at a standstill,” said Arcangelo Gambino, a farmers’ representative in Caltanissetta province, adding that fuel costs had more than doubled.
The pressures extend well beyond agriculture. Higher energy prices are increasing transport and production costs, putting additional strain on household budgets and raising concerns about inflation and economic growth.
The US-Iran conflict, which erupted in February, has further disrupted energy markets and complicated efforts by European governments to contain living costs.
According to estimates cited in the report, the European Commission put the economic cost of the conflict to Europe at approximately €100 billion, including the effects of disrupted trade and energy markets. Gas prices reportedly rose by around 140%, while diesel prices doubled.
France Protests Intensify Ahead of Presidential Election
France has become a major focus of the growing unrest, with demonstrations spreading amid anger over living costs, public services and concerns about the future.
Protests that initially centred on deteriorating school facilities in the northern suburbs of Paris have escalated into wider unrest. Reports describe looting, fires and damage to public buildings, including a 19th-century town hall in Limoges.
The demonstrations have also highlighted concerns among younger people about wages, employment prospects and the rising cost of basic necessities.
“Why am I here? Well, quite simply, I find the current cost of living truly terrifying,” said Quentin Leviloux, a 21-year-old protester in Nantes.
He said people earning close to the minimum wage were finding it increasingly difficult to afford food, fuel and other essentials.
French President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged protesters’ legitimate concerns over rising living costs while condemning violence and looting.
“We must never confuse them with those who destroyed, vandalised and looted,” Macron said.
The unrest comes as France approaches its next presidential election, expected in April. The government is also facing pressure over the country’s budget deficit and concerns in financial markets.
Marine Le Pen Makes Fuel Prices a Campaign Issue
Rising energy costs have become an important political issue in France, where far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen and veteran hard-left politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon have both highlighted fuel prices in their political campaigns.
Political scientist Gilles Ivaldi of Sciences Po said the issue had strengthened Le Pen’s position because fuel affordability had long resonated with her supporters.
“Rising fuel prices are clearly an issue that boosts Marine Le Pen,” Ivaldi said.
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Le Pen has proposed a substantial reduction in value-added tax on fuel, a measure that has attracted public support among consumers seeking immediate relief.
The issue is particularly significant in rural and semi-rural communities, where residents often depend on cars for commuting and accessing essential services.
Polling cited in the report by Elabe indicated that Le Pen’s ratings had improved since the conflict began, while Macron’s had declined. However, fuel prices are only one of several economic and political issues shaping voter attitudes.
Protests Spread Across Italy, Portugal and Spain
Italy has also experienced demonstrations over rising living costs and dissatisfaction with public services.
In Milan, police clashed with protesters on Sunday during demonstrations that included stone-throwing and reports of looting. In Sicily, farmers have complained that rising fuel costs have made agricultural operations increasingly expensive.
Roadblocks organised by truckers, farmers and steelworkers have disrupted transport across parts of southern Italy, contributing to concerns about local fuel shortages and supermarket supplies.
In Portugal, tens of thousands of people marched through Lisbon on Saturday to protest low wages, housing costs and the rising cost of living, adding to pressure on the centre-right government.
Spain has also witnessed nationwide demonstrations over housing affordability after the eviction of an 87-year-old woman from her home intensified public anger over housing shortages and soaring rents. The dispute has become part of a wider political debate ahead of an anticipated election.
Belgium has also seen demonstrations, while rallies in Albania have reflected frustration over perceived government corruption, limited employment opportunities and concerns about education standards.
The protests differ in their immediate causes, but they share a broader theme: growing dissatisfaction with the cost of living and the ability of governments to respond.
Germany’s Far Right Calls for Russian Energy
In Germany, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has gained support amid concerns about living costs and economic performance.
The cost of living remained the leading concern among German respondents for a fifth consecutive year in a survey cited in the report. Rising energy costs and inflation have also provided the AfD with an opportunity to criticise Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government.
The party advocates restoring energy ties with Russia, arguing that restrictions on Russian energy have contributed to economic difficulties for Germany and its energy-intensive industries.
Such proposals challenge the prevailing position among mainstream European political parties, many of which support Ukraine and oppose restoring energy dependence on Moscow under current conditions.
Jan Steckel, a professor of the political economy of climate change at the Technical University of Munich, said high energy prices could influence support for the AfD.
“Populist parties often frame energy costs as avoidable and attribute them to government policy choices rather than to the underlying geopolitical shocks that drive them,” Steckel said.
He added that incumbent governments often struggled to explain complex geopolitical factors behind rising prices.
Italy and Poland See Similar Political Arguments
The debate over Russian energy is also gaining attention in Italy and Poland.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni faces competition from National Future, a new far-right party led by former army general Roberto Vannacci. The party advocates restoring gas links with Russia.
In Poland, concerns over energy bills have helped draw attention to the far-right Confederation of the Polish Crown, led by Grzegorz Braun.
Braun has called for Poland to resume buying Russian oil and gas. He has also made the case alongside AfD politicians in Lubmin, Germany, where the Nord Stream pipelines came ashore before sections of the infrastructure were damaged in 2022.
“I love the smell of Russian gas in the morning,” Braun said.
The proposals highlight a growing political divide over whether restoring energy trade with Russia would ease economic pressure or undermine Europe’s broader security and foreign policy objectives.
Energy Affordability Becomes a Political Battleground
Europe’s latest energy crisis is unfolding against the backdrop of years of inflation, economic uncertainty and concerns about industrial competitiveness.
For households, rising fuel prices directly affect transport expenses and the cost of goods. For businesses, higher energy and shipping costs can reduce profit margins, increase production expenses and place additional pressure on prices.
These conditions have created an opening for parties promising rapid relief, including proposals to reduce fuel taxes or restore energy supplies from Russia.
However, the relationship between energy prices and political support is complex. Global supply disruptions, geopolitical conflict, domestic taxation and government spending decisions can all influence the final price consumers pay.
As elections approach in several European countries, the debate over fuel affordability is likely to remain closely linked to wider questions about economic policy, support for Ukraine and Europe’s future energy strategy.
