Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Mass demonstrations and strikes are underway in several European countries. This is due to high inflation in the region which has prompted workers to demand higher wages.
The prices of energy, especially gas, used mainly by Europe, have risen significantly after the wars between Russia and Ukraine. This has an impact on industrial and domestic energy, causing the prices of basic necessities to soar.
The following are the European countries that have experienced demonstrations and strikes, as summarized: CNBC IndonesiaWednesday (10/26/2022).
1. Romania
Thousands of Romanians joined the demonstration in Bucharest to protest against the cost of energy, food and other basic necessities. Organizers told Euronews on Monday that these conditions have sent millions of workers into poverty.
2. Czech Republic
In Vaclav Havel, large crowds waving flags in Prague last month called for the pro-Western coalition government to step down from the Russian-Ukrainian war. According to the protesters, Russia’s gas embargo policy during the war with Ukraine triggered a sharp rise in energy prices.
3. Hungary
Thousands of Hungarians, including teachers and students, marched through Budapest on Sunday to protest the government. Even though they secured Russian gas supplies, protesters still say Prime Minister (PM) Viktor Orban has failed to maintain economic stability.
4. France
A wave of strikes has started in France. So far the unions for oil refineries and the public sector such as transport have started their strikes in recent weeks.
This strike also depleted the country’s gasoline stocks and created a disruption in mobilization due to several public vehicles having stopped running. They demanded a pay rise due to growing basic needs.
5. English
Rail workers, nurses, dock workers, lawyers and other professions in Britain have also started a series of strikes in recent months. They are asking for a pay rise to adjust to inflation, which is hitting a four-decade high of 10.1%.
Furthermore, the demonstrations were also carried out by citizens of the Big Ben country who were against the Brexit policy. Thousands of people are asking for Britain to rejoin the European Union.
6. Germany
Recent strikes by Lufthansa pilots in Germany, as well as airline and airport workers have disrupted flights over the Rhine.
Not only that, demonstrations in which 24 thousand people took part were also held in six major cities in the country.
The protest, led by environmental activists Greenpeace, called on the government to resolve the energy crisis. Germany was hit hard by the Russia-Ukraine war because it depended more on Russian gas.
7. Belgium
The Belgians have been protesting since last June. As many as 80,000 workers protested against the increase in the price of basic necessities.
They demanded that the government raise wages and allocate more funds for education and health.
Meanwhile, some protesters have also started attacking the NATO defense alliance in the demonstration. They say NATO’s participation in Ukraine and Belgium as members of the alliance has led to too much money being spent on war.
8. Spanish
In September, 80,000 workers attended a demonstration in Madrid, Spain, calling for “fair” wage increases and effective economic measures against inflation.
The protest was launched by the Center for the Union of Independent Workers and Public Employees (CSIF) and the Spanish security forces union Jusapol.
In detail, the protesters asked the government to retroactively renew public salaries by 2022 and to increase multi-year salaries to compensate for the loss of purchasing power since 2010.
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