(Prague) Around 70,000 people protested in the historic center of Prague on Saturday against the Czech government accusing it of paying more attention to war-ravaged Ukraine than to its own citizens.
Posted at 11:19 a.m.
Organized under the slogan, “Czech Republic first”, the protest took aim at rising inflation driven by soaring energy prices, COVID-19 vaccination as well as immigrants.
Protesters demanded the resignation of the centre-right government of Petr Fiala, which took office last December.
“The best for Ukrainians and two sweaters for us,” read a banner, suggesting that Czechs would not be able to pay heating bills in winter.
Energy prices are rising across Europe following a drop in gas supplies from Russia, which has pushed up electricity prices.
“The gathering in Wenceslas Square is calm, we didn’t have to face any serious problems. We estimate the number of participants at around 70,000 as of 12:30 p.m. GMT (8:30 a.m. EDT),” Czech police said on Twitter.
The Czech Republic, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency, has taken in around 400,000 refugees from Ukraine since the war began on February 24 and has provided significant military and humanitarian aid to the country.
Mr Fiala’s government survived a vote of no confidence in parliament on Friday, initiated by two opposition parties: the centrist populist ANO party of former billionaire prime minister Andrej Babis and the far-right SPD movement.
Mr Fiala told reporters that the rally was organized 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,” he added.