Approximately a hundred young people gathered on Thursday before Rudolfinum in Prague to express their dissatisfaction with the government’s proposed consolidation package aimed at stabilizing public finances. Organized by the initiative “Budoucnost neškrtneš” (Future You Won’t Cut), the protest sought to highlight the neglect of issues directly impacting the youth, such as underfunding of education and the lack of affordable housing.

In their statement, the protesting students voiced their belief that the government consistently shows disinterest in their future and disregards the problems that deeply concern them. They accused the government of exploiting their voices to justify its political agenda.

Among the concerns raised by the students were the deteriorating situation of fellow students, growing disparities between Prague and other regions, 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 expressed disappointment with the government’s approach, claiming that while promising reforms, it primarily offers shallow budget cuts. They argued that if the government overlooks these critical issues, it will not be aligned with the policies needed to address them.

During the demonstration, the students displayed banners with powerful slogans such as “Stop Cuts” and “Prefer Education Over Wine,” drawing attention to the proposed increase in excise tax on alcohol. They also expressed their intention to establish a student platform to advocate for a dignified future for all.

While some critics focused on the impact on winemakers, the central focus of the protest remained on the government’s austerity package. The package includes 58 measures aimed at reducing 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 these reductions through various measures, including increasing income tax for legal entities, raising excise taxes on tobacco and alcohol, introducing a gambling tax, implementing a property tax, reintroducing sickness insurance for employees, and raising contributions for self-employed individuals while reducing the deficit through savings and the limitation of state subsidies.

The student protest and their concerns have shed light on the need for the government to address the social and economic challenges faced by young people and other marginalized groups. Comprehensive and thoughtful solutions are required to ensure a fair and prosperous future for all citizens. The impact of these demonstrations and subsequent discussions will shape the direction of government policies and determine the level of support from the younger generation.

Article by Prague Forum