Students and educators stage mass protests across Greece

On October 21, 2026, students, teachers, and civil servants launched nationwide strikes and rallies across Greece to demand significant improvements in public education and living conditions. Major demonstrations took place in Athens at the Propylaea, as well as in Thessaloniki, Patras, and other cities. The mobilization followed two days of heightened tension, during which student unions set up protest camps in Syntagma Square and other public spaces to draw attention to the soaring costs of student housing, high inflation, and the lack of university funding.

Key demands include a 20% wage increase for educators, the reinstatement of 13th and 14th-month salaries, and urgent action to address staff shortages, which account for approximately 15,000 unfilled teaching positions. Protesters also called for a rent cap, increased state funding for infrastructure, and the abolition of certain academic restrictions. The Greek General Confederation of Civil Servants (ADEDY) supported the movement with work stoppages, while police deployed 3,000 officers in Athens to manage traffic and secure public areas. While the protests have been largely peaceful, authorities conducted preventive identity checks, resulting in at least ten detentions in Athens as of midday.