Up to 35,000 people flocked to Wenceslas Square in Prague to take part in an anti-government demonstration there, a local digital media outlet reports, citing the protest’s organizers.
The protest, held under the slogan “Czechia Against Poverty,” is meant to draw the Czech government’s attention to the deteriorating standard of living in the country, whose citizens are struggling with rising prices of electricity, fuel, and groceries.
During the rally, the protesters will reportedly have the opportunity to sign a petition calling on the government to come up with measures that would improve people’s livelihoods.
Thousands of Czechs demonstrated in Prague’s central square on Sunday, calling on the government to quit as they protested over high inflation and energy prices.
The protest, like a similar demonstration in March, was organized by non-parliamentary political party PRO, which has criticized the government of Prime Minister Petr Fiala for its handling of the energy crisis that has hit Europe since the sanctions on Russia.
PRO has also blasted the government for hurting freedom of speech as part of efforts to counter disinformation, and has called on it to push for peace in the Ukraine war, while denying being a pro-Russian party.
The Czech Republic, like other countries in Europe, has been hit by rising inflation that has soared into double digits in the past year and high energy prices that are cutting into household budgets.
Recent polling from Kantar for Czech TV saw support for the five-party government slipping, with the main opposition party, ANO of former prime minister Andrej Babis, extending its lead over Fiala’s party to 29% compared with 20%.
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