Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Brussels on Wednesday for a national day of action to demand higher wages and lower energy prices.
According to police, over 10,000 people descended on the Belgian capital as it was revealed that some 64% of the country’s citizens are afraid they may not be able to pay their bills.
The demonstrations were organized by Belgian trade unions, who claim that the average energy bill for families in the country has already increased threefold to more than €700 ($691) a month.
It’s not that we don’t want to pay, but we can’t pay, said Thierry Bodson, chairman of the General Labor Federation of Belgium, while speaking to thousands of union activists at the Place de la Monnaie.
While the average Belgian family only makes €2,500 ($2,468) a month, Bodson pointed out that it’s absolutely impossible for someone below that line to pay their bills.
Addressing the government’s recommendation for citizens to use less energy, Bodson said this was pointless, as most Belgians have already taken all possible measures to lower their energy consumption but it was still not enough.
Placards seen in the crowds shared Bodson’s sentiments with some reading freeze prices, not people, and everything is going up except our wages.
The protesters are demanding that Belgian authorities do more to combat skyrocketing prices, and claim they should draw additional resources from energy companies that have reported record profits this year and made billions while the standard of living for average people has plummeted.
Last month, Belgium’s Statbel statistics agency reported that inflation in the country had jumped to 9.94% amid a surge in energy prices, almost reaching a record set in 1976.
Meanwhile, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo has warned that the next five to ten winters will be difficult due to record gas prices, but stated that Belgium would endure the crisis if we support each other in these difficult times.
RT. com / ABC Flash Point Europe Economy News 2022.
The rich and powerful of Europe are telling the poor and weak to endure and persevere – very sad indeed
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The horror show must continue for a while, before the USA hits the sound barrier?
Parallel Time News : A proposal was put forward for an alternative ecological transition to the destructive and contaminatory one of the EU’s. The first step of the practical proposal was to raise the 96 or so EU and EC buildings in Brussels to the ground, clear it, and plant some trees without any of the globalists’ plastics and other toxic substances, and not involving any of their corporate profiteering and hypocritical “charities”. At news of this proposal, all of the globalists’ green parties and (un)green corporate charities, and Micron too, went ballistic. However, the proposal still stands and is… Read more »
The rich will be very comfortable.
For a little while longer?
The Underlying issue should be — WHY is Europe willing to sacrifice the lives of its own citizens for US Hegemony ?? Having spoken to Americans – They will not freeze- they will not starve this winter as Russian Gas/Oil arrives constantly flagged under other nations .They will be sitting back eating popcorn watching the old-sick-poor Die in Europe. Why do they hide their heads in the sand when its been stated by the US government that ( contrary to their propaganda ) the US cannot help Europe this winter as it needs its supplies for its own citizens —… Read more »
Washington DC, London City and Dubai operate under the same disguise as the Vatican does in Rome. No responsibility towards the people in the country.