Tens of thousands of ‘Czech Republic First’ protesters are on the streets of Prague demanding their government adopt a neutral posture in the Ukraine war as energy prices go out of control.
The protesters are described by the Associated Press news agency as “from the far right and far left”, with the anti-mass migration Freedom and Direct Democracy party and the Communist Party both represented, and numbered around 70,000, according to law enforcement.
They have condemned Prime Minister Petr Fiala’s government, which has been in office since December last year, and called for its resignation, accusing them of putting Ukrainian interests ahead of Czech interests.
“The best for Ukrainians and two sweaters for us,” one banner at the protest read, alluding to what are likely to be punishing energy bills come the winter, and the fact that the country of around 10 million has absorbed around 400,000 Ukrainian refugees.
NATO and the European Union, of which Czechia currently holds the rotating presidency, were also criticised — the latter for its net-zero climate agenda, in particular.
Prime Minister Fiala, who has previously compared the Russian invasion of Ukraine to Soviet tanks crushing the Prague Spring in 1969, alleged the protest had been organised by ” pro-Russian people close to extremist positions and whose interests run counter to those of the Czech Republic.”
“It is clear that Russian propaganda and disinformation campaigns are present on our territory and that some people are simply listening to them,” added the Czech leader, whose government survived a parliamentary vote of no-confidence over energy prices on Friday.
More than 70,000 Czechs are protesting in Prague, the capital, demanding the ruling coalition take a neutral stance on the Ukraine war to ensure energy supplies from Russia aren’t cut off ahead of winter. Protesters are outraged at the European Union for sanctions against Russia that have sparked soaring electricity bills and triggered a cost-of-living crisis.
“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 organizer Jiri Havel told local news iDNES and quoted by Reuters.
The protest, held at Wenceslas Square in the heart of the capital, comes one day after the Czech government survived a no-confidence vote over opposition claims of inaction to protect citizens against energy hyperinflation.
Emerging political instability shows how Europe’s energy crisis fuels discontent among households. We noted a new study Friday that warned civil unrest could flare up in parts of Europe over the next six months because of the deteriorating macro backdrop of high inflation.
Czechs are tired of Western sanctions on Russia that have sparked a devastating energy crisis. They want Czech interest first over the EU’s and demand cheap Russian gas and neutrality.
“The entire Wenceslas Square demands the resignation of the government! We will demand that the current cabinet, which is working against us, resign”: A 70,000-strong rally was held in Prague Also demand lower gas and electricity prices and neutrality on the conflict in Ukraine
https://twitter.com/DagnyTaggart369/status/1566102862475796482?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Smells like everybody is pissed off by NATO.
◾In Prague, 50 thousand people came to a rally: they demand that the authorities take a neutral position on the conflict in Ukraine
◾The rally that is taking place at these minutes is called “The Czech Republic first of all.”
https://twitter.com/AntifaYugo/status/1566048136488960003?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
In Prague in 100,000 people for freedom. They require direct gas supplies from Russia and food and energy guarantees for the Czech Republic. They hold the EU solely responsible for the European economic disaster and the rise in energy bills.
https://twitter.com/RadioGenova/status/1566101540527656961?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Europe is on the brink
Over 70000 people came out in support of Russia in Prague and are forcing the Govt to resign for supporting Ukraine
Europe is on the brink
— Mahesh 🇮🇳 (@Mahesh10816) September 3, 2022
Over 70000 people came out in support of Russia in Prague and are forcing the Govt to resign for supporting Ukraine pic.twitter.com/lwMAjkBM2U
🇨🇿”This is not our war” — anti-government rallies are taking place in Prague right now
https://twitter.com/AZmilitary1/status/1566081839583854593?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Western sanctions are backfiring, and some Europeans are awakening to how their governments sacrificed their livelihoods for NATO’s proxy fight against Russia in Ukraine. What’s happening in Prague could spread like wildfire throughout the EU.