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Thousands protest in Brussels as cost of living crisis deepens

Friday, 16 December 2022 6:34 PM [ Last Update: Friday, 16 December 2022 6:43 PM ]

People take part in a demonstration against the rising cost of living, in Brussels, Belgium December 16, 2022. (Reuters photo)

Thousands of demonstrators have rallied in the streets of Brussels to protest against the rising costs of living, disrupting public transport systems and disarranging this week’s European Union (EU) summit.

According to the Brussels police, 16,500 protesters showed up at the demonstration on Friday, demanding better pay and working conditions in line with soaring inflation across Europe.

Chanting slogans and holding up banners, the demonstrators also called on government officials to increase wages and salaries for pensioners.

Following Russia’s military campaign against Ukraine, the price of gas and electricity surged across Europe, with Belgium’s headline inflation rate reaching 10.63 percent in November, while consumer inflation in the eurozone as a whole is around 10 percent.

“You get back home to your children, you want your house to be warm. You should not be having to make calculations on using energy,” said one demonstrator.

Brussels airport announced that flights should be canceled as a result of the protests, while the local police said that traffic was disrupted due to the public demonstrations.

Thousands of 'warm banks' set up across UK as cost of living crisis deepens

The UK sets up more than 3,200 “warm banks” across the country for people who cannot afford to heat up their homes as much as they like amid a cost of living crisis.

Most European countries are grappling with a cost of living crisis that has prompted various social groups to take industrial action and go on strike for higher wages in line with inflation.

The damaging effects of soaring inflation across the European countries, especially the UK, have crippled the economy, laying a heavy weight on ordinary citizens.

People in the UK are struggling to stay warm this winter and pay their heavy gas bills. According to YouGov’s newly released data, only one in six Britons have proper heating until their desired time.

German citizens, on the other side, have seen gas prices surge to more than 40 percent, which has come alongside an increase in rising living costs. The country’s inflation rate peaked in October at 10 percent – its highest in 70 years.

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