Energy prices: Tens of thousands demonstrate in Prague against Russia sanctions
According to police reports, around 70,000 people demonstrated on Saturday on Wenceslas Square in Prague against the policies of the Czech government. The main topics of the demonstration were rising energy prices, inflation and EU sanctions against Russia. On their website, the organizers also spoke out in favor of a “neutral” position for the Czech Republic in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and against the permanent admission of Ukrainian refugees.
The protest rally's slogan - "Czech Republic First!" - is reminiscent of former US President Donald Trump 's campaign slogan . He, too, had campaigned for a stronger weighting of national interests, regardless of international consequences. The protests on Saturday afternoon were largely peaceful, the Czech police said on Twitter.
Autonomy, nationalism and military neutrality
Several organizations critical of the government, citizens' initiatives and opposition parties had called for the demonstration. Participants waved Czech flags and carried banners denouncing high energy prices and calling for the government's resignation. They also demanded an end to the EU sanctions policy against Russia because it is damaging to the Czech economy and population.
"The Czech Republic must free itself from the direct political subjugation by the EU, the WHO and the UN," the organizers of the protest demand on their website. Accordingly, the Czech Republic must make itself independent of the West in particular and regain its autonomy in terms of industry, agriculture and finance. Nor should the country be caught between the fronts of a war between “East and West”.
Meanwhile, the liberal-conservative Prime Minister Petr Fiala accused the organizers of the demonstration of having a "pro-Russian orientation" that harmed the interests of the Czech Republic. "It is clear that the Russian propaganda and disinformation campaign will show up again and again in our country and someone will fall for it," he was quoted as saying by the CTK.
"Our country first": Energy protests soon in Germany?
Representatives of the federal government have also warned of heated protests if the tense situation surrounding the lack of Russian gas supplies and steadily rising energy prices should deteriorate further. In this context, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) spoke of the threat of “popular uprisings”. Both the AfD and Die Linke have already called for regular Monday demonstrations against the energy policy of the traffic light coalition.
Similar to the Czech Republic, the protests against the federal government announced by the AfD were apparently inspired by the American ex-president. A corresponding campaign with the motto "Our country first!" is to be presented at a press conference on September 8 by the two AfD federal chairmen, Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel.
Representatives of the federal government have also warned of heated protests if the tense situation surrounding the lack of Russian gas supplies and steadily rising energy prices should deteriorate further. In this context, Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) spoke of the threat of “popular uprisings”. Both the AfD and Die Linke have already called for regular Monday demonstrations against the energy policy of the traffic light coalition.
Similar to the Czech Republic, the protests against the federal government announced by the AfD were apparently inspired by the American ex-president. A corresponding campaign with the motto "Our country first!" is to be presented at a press conference on September 8 by the two AfD federal chairmen, Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel.
Source: Berliner Zeitung
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