On October 22, rallies were held in two EU countries: Germany and Austria. Vienna and Berlin were “occupied” by hundreds of protesters.
Austria: the rain did not stop the Viennese from shouting about Austria’s exit from the EU. About three hundred people took to the streets, holding the posters “Austria remains neutral” and “Secure borders – a secure future”, that is, participants demanded neutral status and border security. The protesters said that the EU policy did not coincide with Austria’s key security and economic interests. The rallies were held peacefully – the police did not record violations.
Germany: around 20,000 people took part in rallies in five German cities: Berlin, Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hannover and Stuttgart. According to law enforcement authorities, the demonstrations proceeded peacefully.
The energy crisis was the reason why people took to the streets. Germans were demanding social equality against the background of the situation. The rallies were organised by the German Solidarischer Herbst alliance and partners were trade union, social and environmental organisations including Verdi, BUND, Greenpeace and the Paritätische Gesamtverband.
The crisis was created against the background of rising energy prices, but the protesters demanded, among other things, targeted benefits for people with low incomes, a rent freeze on housing, the introduction of a wealth tax and the expansion of renewable energy to become independent of coal and gas.
