Several thousand demonstrators in Romania joined an anti-poverty march in the capital on Thursday to express their dismay at the new charge for living, marking the latest protest in Europe against higher positions and salaries that staff say have kept pace with inflation.
The march in Bucharest organized through the National Confederation of Trade Unions, Cartel Alfa, said the burden of energy, food and other essentials “is skyrocketing to levels that are plunging millions of workers into poverty. “Eastern European country, member of the European Union since 2007.
Many protesters mocked, honked their horns and some waved Romania’s blue, yellow and red flag. They called on the government to raise wages and pensions and establish value controls to counter the cost-of-living crisis.
“The march against poverty is a march to raise awareness among the political class, related to the desire for them to make decisions about the scenario facing the population,” said Alpha Cartel leader Bogdan Hossu. “The impoverishment of populations due to inflation and falling living standards comes from the lack of decisions and reforms in the electricity sector. “
The union said officials, economists and bankers have taken steps “that put even more pressure on citizens” by raising interest rates, while power corporations “are making record profits. “He added that “fair wages and pensions, bills, enough food and housing. . . They are not luxuries, they are our rights. “
Similar anti-inflationary protests have erupted across Europe in recent months, adding in France on Tuesday, as thousands of employees took to the streets across the country to call for wage increases to accommodate emerging costs. People from countries such as the Czech Republic, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom have also demonstrated in recent months to call for calls.
In non-EU Albania, a slew of university professors protested outdoors against the construction of the University of Tirana in the capital, Tirana, on Thursday, without an easy pay rise and complaining that they are the lowest paid in their career in the Western Balkans.
Earlier this month, the government increased teachers’ salaries by 7%, but teachers complained that it is falling below inflation levels of 8% and a 30% salary increase is not easy.
The protests come as much of Europe is caught in an energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has dramatically higher food and energy costs.
A European Union summit this week aims to find a consensus among the 27 nations on how to boost prices that fuel inflation. Some countries have also followed relief measures.
Romania’s coalition government followed an emergency measure in early September to make larger energy value caps for some consumers, adding low-income families and small and medium-sized businesses, trump the cost-of-living crisis.
Consumer costs in Romania rose last month to 15. 9% from a year earlier, eclipsing projections by the country’s central bank. The bank expects inflation to fall to 8. 9% in the same quarter next year. By comparison, inflation in the 19-country domain using the euro reached 9. 9% last month.
According to a report published this week by the pro-democracy organization Friedrich Ebert Foundation Romania and according to data from Syndex, a circle of relatives of two adults and two children needed 1,750 euros ($1,700) a month last month to “live decently. “an accumulation of 19. 7% compared to the same month of 2021.
The monthly minimum wage in Romania this year is €515, compared to €1,645 in France and €268 in Albania, according to EU statistics agency Eurostat.
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McGrath reported from Kidderminster, England. Llazar Semini contributed from Tirana, Albania.
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