LONDON (AP) 鈥� In Romania, protesters blew horns and banged drums to voice their dismay over the rising cost of living. to demand pay increases that keep pace with inflation. Czech demonstrators rallied against government handling of . British railway staff and German pilots held strikes to push for better pay as prices rise.
Across Europe, soaring inflation is behind a wave of protests and strikes that underscores growing discontent with the spiraling cost of living and threatens to unleash political turmoil. With less than two months into the job after her economic plans and further bruised an ailing economy, the risk to political leaders became clearer as people demand action.
Europeans have seen their energy bills and because of . Despite natural gas prices falling from record summer highs and governments allocating a whopping 576 billion euros (over $566 billion) in since September 2021, according to the Bruegel think tank in Brussels, it's not enough for some protesters.
in the 19 countries that use the euro currency to a record 9.9%, making it harder for people to buy what they need. Some see little choice but to hit the streets.
鈥淭oday, people are obliged to use pressure tactics in order to get an increase" in pay, said Rachid Ouchem, a medic who was among more than 100,000 people that joined protest marches this week in multiple French cities.
The fallout from the war in Ukraine has sharply raised the risk of civil unrest in Europe, according to risk consultancy Verisk Maplecroft. European leaders have strongly supported Ukraine, and pledging or being forced to , but the transition hasn't been easy and threatens to erode public support.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no quick fix to the energy crisis," said Torbjorn Soltvedt, an analyst at Verisk Maplecroft. 鈥淎nd if anything, inflation looks like it might be worse next year than it has been this year.鈥�
That means the link between economic pressure and popular opinion on the war in Ukraine 鈥渨ill really be tested,鈥� he said.
In France, where inflation is running at 6.2%, the lowest in the 19 eurozone countries, rail and transport workers, high school teachers and public hospital employees heeded a call Tuesday by an oil workers鈥� union to demand salary increases and protest by refinery workers that have caused .
Days later, to protest the cost of energy, food and other essentials that organizers said were sending millions of workers into poverty.
In the Czech Republic, last month demanded the pro-Western coalition government resign, criticizing its support of European Union鈥檚 sanctions against Russia. They also for not doing enough to help households and businesses squeezed by energy costs.
While another protest is scheduled in Prague next week, the actions have not translated to political change so far, with the country's ruling coalition during an election this month.
British rail workers, , port workers, lawyers and others have in recent months demanding pay raises that match inflation running at a .
Trains ground to a halt during the transit actions, while recent in Germany and seeking higher pay in line with inflation have disrupted flights.
Truss' failed , which involved sweeping tax cuts and tens of billions of pounds (dollars) in without a clear plan to pay for them, illustrates the bind that governments are in.
They 鈥渉ave very little room for maneuver,鈥� Soltvedt said.
So far, the saving grace has been a milder than usual October in Europe, which means less demand for gas to heat homes, Soltvedt said.
However, 鈥渋f we do end up with unexpected disruption to the supply of gas from Europe this winter, then, you know, we鈥檒l probably see an even further increase in civil unrest, risk and government instability," he said.
Kelvin Chan, The Associated Press
