A gathering of approximately a hundred young people occurred Thursday before Rudolfinum in Prague to protest against the government. The students aimed to voice their dissatisfaction with the recently proposed consolidation package, which seeks to stabilize public finances. They criticized the government for neglecting issues directly impacting the youth, such as underfunding education and the lack of affordable housing. The protest was organized by the initiative “Budoucnost neškrtneš” (Future You Won’t Cut).
In their statement, the students expressed their belief that the government has consistently shown disinterest in their future and disregarded the problems that deeply concern them. They accused the government of exploiting their voices to justify their political agenda.
Among the many concerns highlighted by the students was the deteriorating situation of fellow students, growing disparities between Prague and other regions, the persistent underfunding of the education system, the pressing climate and energy crisis, the segregation of Romani students, and the need for equal rights for the LGBT+ community.
The students emphasized their disappointment with the government’s approach, stating that while promising reforms, it primarily offers shallow budget cuts. They asserted that if the government overlooks these critical issues, it will not align itself with such policies.
During the demonstration, the students displayed banners with powerful slogans such as “Stop Cuts” and “Prefer Education Over Wine,” which intended to draw attention to the proposed increase in excise tax on alcohol. Furthermore, one representative of the protesting students expressed their intention to establish a student platform and foster a dignified future for all.
The head of the Chlad union, commenting on the protest, criticized the unfair targeting of winemakers. However, the focus of the demonstration remained on the government’s austerity package. The package consists of 58 measures to reduce the state budget deficit by 94 billion Czech korun next year and 53.4 billion Czech korun the following year.
The government plans to achieve this through various measures, including increasing income tax for legal entities, raising excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol, introducing a gambling tax, and implementing a property tax. Additionally, the government intends to reintroduce sickness insurance for employees and raise contributions for self-employed individuals while reducing the deficit through savings and the limitation of state subsidies.
The student protest and their concerns have brought to light the need for the government to address the social and economic challenges faced by young people and other marginalized groups. The complexity of the existing situation demands comprehensive and thoughtful solutions to ensure a fair and prosperous future for all citizens. The impact of these demonstrations and the subsequent discussions will shape the direction of government policies and determine the younger generation’s support level.