The Czech Republic experienced a Saturday that could still be in store for Germany: tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Prague against rising energy prices and the Czech government. Right-wing extremist parties and the Communist Party had called for the rally.
According to the police, around 70,000 people gathered at the rally under the motto “The Czech Republic First” on central Wenceslas Square to demonstrate against inflation driven by the energy crisis, corona vaccinations and the admission of migrants.
The demonstrators called for the resignation of the centre-right government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala, which has only been in office since December. “The best for the Ukrainians and two sweaters for us,” read one banner. The government was thus accused of supporting Ukraine with sanctions against Russia, but not helping the Czechs, who were suffering from massively rising heating costs as a result.
Speaking of Saturday’s demonstration, Fiala said it was organized by “pro-Russian individuals close to extremist positions” whose interests ran counter to those of the Czech Republic. “It is clear that there are Russian propaganda and disinformation campaigns on our territory and some people just listen to them,” the head of government said.
Energy prices are currently rising across Europe because the EU is buying far less natural gas from Russia because of the war in Ukraine. In Germany, too, various groups have called for demonstrations. The Verdi union is threatening protests over high energy prices. Left Party and AfD are each mobilizing for a “hot autumn”.
The left-wing parliamentary group’s commissioner for Eastern Europe, Leipzig member of the Bundestag Sören Pellmann, announced a demo for Monday in Leipzig under the slogan “Hot autumn against social indifference”. The far-right Freie Sachsen plan to join the Left Party’s protest with their own rally nearby.
A hot autumn is expected, unrest is feared – and there is growing concern that leftists are making common cause with right-wing extremists. Left party leader Schirdewan defends his party’s calls for protests. Why is he dividing society?
Source: WORLD / Jens Reupert
For the AfD, party leaders Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel want to present a corresponding campaign next week. The motto: “Hot autumn, instead of cold feet!” supplemented by the slogan “Our country first!” The saying is reminiscent of Donald Trump’s political guideline: “America first”.
The protection of the constitution has already expressed the fear that in Germany, as in the Czech Republic, right-wing and left-wing groups could take to the streets together. “In contrast, what we experienced in the corona pandemic was probably more of a children’s birthday party,” said Thuringia’s President for the Protection of the Constitution, Stephan Kramer, in an interview. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser (SPD) fears that demonstrations will be appropriated by extremists and called for demarcation.
The Czech Republic, which currently holds the EU Council Presidency, has taken in around 400,000 war refugees from Ukraine and has supplied the country with significant amounts of military goods and humanitarian aid. On Friday, Fiala’s government survived a vote of confidence in parliament requested by former Prime Minister Andrej Babis’ populist ANO party and a right-wing extremist party.
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