REACTIONARY NATIONALISTS

Tens of thousands take to streets in Prague to protest against Czech government

wionnewsweb@gmail.com (Wion Web Team) - 1h ago

About 70,000 took part in protests in Czech Republic capital Prague on Saturday (September 4). The people demanded action from the ruling coalition government towards controlling soaring energy prices. The protesters also voiced opposition to the European Union (EU) and NATO


Tens of thousands take to streets in Prague to protest against Czech government© Provided by WION

Organisers of the demonstration from a number of far-right and fringe political groups including the Communist party, said the central European nation should be neutral militarily and ensure direct contracts with gas suppliers, including Russia.

Police estimates said that by mid-afternoon the number of protesters reached the 70,000 mark by afternoon.

"The aim of our demonstration is to demand change, mainly in solving the issue of energy prices, especially electricity and gas, which will destroy our economy this autumn," event co-organizer Jiri Havel told iDNES.cz news website.

The protest was held a day after the governemnt survived a no-confidence vote. The Opposition is accusing the government of inaction against inflation and energy prices.

The vote showed how Europe's energy crisis is fuelling political instability as soaring power prices stoke inflation, already at levels unseen in three decades.

Czech Prime Minister Petre Fiala expressed displeasure at the protests and said the protesters did not have the country's best interests at heart

The protest on Wenceslas Square was called by forces that are pro-Russian, are close to extreme positions and are against the interests of the Czech Republic," he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Tens of thousands protest against Czech government

Sat, September 3, 2022 



PRAGUE (AP) — Tens of thousands of protesters from the far right and far left joined forces to rally against the country’s pro-Western Czech government in the capital on Saturday.

Police estimated that the crowd at Prague's central Wenceslas Square numbered around 70,000.

Some of the groups represented at the demonstration included the major anti-migrant populist Freedom and Direct Democracy party and the Communist Party.

The protesters demanded the resignation of the current coalition government led by conservative Prime Minister Petr Fiala, criticizing it for a number of issues, including its Western-oriented policies.

They condemned the government for its support of the sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine and accused it of not being able to tackle soaring energy prices. The demonstrators also criticized NATO, and the European Union and the 27-nation bloc's plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions and reach climate neutrality. The country belong to both organizations.

Fiala said everyone has a right to demonstrate, but said those protesting are expressing pro-Russia views “that are not in the interest of the Czech Republic and our citizens.”

The Czech Republic firmly supports Ukraine in its battle against Russia's invasion and has donated arms, including heavy weapons, to the Ukrainian armed forces.

The government is planning to call an emergency meeting of EU countries next week to seek a united approach to the energy crisis. The Czech Republic currently holds the bloc’s rotating presidency.

The Associated Press