2024-02-02 21:00:00
Dissatisfaction explodes among people who are under pressure for “environmental protection” and “support for Ukraine”
German farmers protesting against car tax subsidy cuts near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin on January 15 (Photo: Reuters/Afro)
Go to gallery page
(Yoichi Masuzoe: International political scientist)
Peasants are revolting in Europe. In both Germany and France, farmers on tractors are blocking highways and paralyzing traffic. It is an expression of protest against the government. What is happening in Europe now?
Criticism of the Scholz government is increasing in Germany.
The current Scholz government is a coalition government consisting of the SPD (Social Democratic Party), the Green Party, and the FDP (Free Democratic Party), but it is unpopular. This is because prices are rising and the lives of Germans are becoming more difficult.
The real GDP growth rate has been sluggish since the second half of 2022, making it the only country in the G7 with negative growth. Up until now, the country had been growing its economy by importing cheap Russian natural gas, but the outbreak of the Ukraine war has made that impossible.
Furthermore, the Scholz government, which is in coalition with the anti-nuclear Green Party, has closed all nuclear power plants in April 2023. Although renewable energy is said to be the mainstay, there are problems such as unstable supply and high prices, which are leading to significant increases in electricity rates. The majority of the people oppose the complete abolition of nuclear power plants under the current circumstances, which is increasing dissatisfaction with the government.
Rising energy prices are causing a slump in personal consumption. It is said that Germany has overtaken Japan and risen to third place in the world in terms of GDP, but this is due to inflation and dollar conversion, and the reality of the German economy is difficult.
1706949031
#Naoto #MasuzoeFarmers #demonstrations #spreading #Europe #rooted #anger #EUs #selfrighteous #policies #Dissatisfaction #explodes #among #people #criticized #environmental #protection #support #Ukraine #JBpress