Photo : Financial Times
IN FOCUS
By Ashwin Immanuel Dhanabalan
Europe sees continued protests against vaccine mandates and lockdowns
The recent protests in Vienna and Luxembourg City
On 11 December, around 44,000 protestors gathered on the streets of Vienna, Austria's capital, against the government restrictions for COVID-19. The protests were against mandatory vaccines and home confinement orders for unvaccinated citizens. Vaccination in Austria is now mandatory for all above the age of 14 from February 2022. The protestors said: "I'm not a neo-Nazi or a hooligan," while another demonstrator said, "I'm fighting for freedom and against the vaccine". Furthermore, the government will impose fines for the unvaccinated from EUR 300 to EUR 3,600 depending on the people's income and financial obligations.
The Austrian government announced a fourth national lockdown three weeks ago to curb the spread of the new COVID variant Omicron. The Minister for Constitutional Affairs Karoline Edtstadler said: "We do not want to punish people who are not vaccinated. We want to win them over and convince them to get vaccinated.” About 1,200 police officers were deployed to handle the protestors; they used pepper spray to control demonstrators who had fireworks, as a few attacked the officers with snowballs and ice.
On 12 December, the protests in Luxembourg City escalated to the extent that the government had to use water cannons against demonstrators. In addition, protestors stormed the Christmas market as it was closed for anyone who was not vaccinated. The recent protests in Vienna, Klagenfurt and Linz shed light on the peoples' apprehension on government regulations and restrictions against COVID-19.
Demography of the protestors
The demography of protestors in Luxembourg City, as mentioned by Luxembourg University’s Professor Dr Anja Leist said: "The people we saw on the streets are once again a non-representative small group of those who are hesitant to vaccinate and who, according to the German studies, come from different political orientations." The protestors were not from a specific political school of thought but constituted a tiny minority of the population, as 66.2 percent of the population in Luxembourg is vaccinated.
While the anti-vaxxers in Europe, as reported by Deutsche Welle, were said to be a mix of "the politically disenchanted, those who are anti-state, others who are esoteric and or anti-vaxxers". Leuven University's Political Science Professor Marc Hooghe said there was a "combination of very different social groups which all have their own motivations". Hooghe on the German public broadcaster ZDF compared the protests in Belgium to France's yellow vest movement.
Siegen University’s Sociologist Johannes Kiess talked about the role of far-right groups in the recent protests mentioning "What we have seen everywhere is that actors from the political right are at the helm, organizing and mobilizing." For example, in Vienna, members of the far-right group called the Identitarian Movement were promoting rallies on their website. The far-right and even a part of the ultra-conservative Catholic community supported the demonstrations.
Driving factors of the recent protests
The protests were not restricted to COVID-19 and government regulations. They resounded more significant issues progressing in the background of the regions. The Austrians marched with signs saying, "I will decide for myself", "Make Austria Great Again", and "New Elections". As Austria had seen three Chancellors change in the last two months, this has been causing political turmoil in Austria. In France, it was about Macron's style of politics, and in the Netherlands, it was linked to the shortcomings of the government's social policies. While in Saxony, it was about trust issues with the politicians and disenchantment from democracy.
Kiess mentioned that the situation could get even worse, leading to "…more action against illegal demonstrations early on, by fining people more consistently and also dispersing the crowds for example". While German Interior Ministers Conference Chairman Thomas Strobl said: "mandatory vaccination would intensify the aggressive attitude of the protest movement." Thus, more regulations and mandatory inoculations could lead to increasing protests with diversifying reasons for mobilization.
References:
“Tens of thousands protest against compulsory Covid jabs in Austria," The Guardian, 11 December 2021.
“Austrians refusing COVID vaccine will face up to $4,000 fines,” Al Jazeera. 09 December 2021.
Stephanie Hoppner, “What is behind the COVID protests across Europe?,” Deutsche Welle, 09 December 2021.
“More than 40,000 march in Vienna against coronavirus lockdown," Reuters, 05 December 2021.
“Tens of thousands protest Austria’s compulsory COVID vaccines," Al Jazeera, 11 December 2021.
“Tens of thousands protest in Austria against tightening Covid-19 restrictions," France24, 12 December 2021.
IN BRIEF
By Joeana Cera Matthews
BULGARIA
Kiril Petkov seals coalition agreement with Radev’s approval
On 11 December, Prime Minister-designate Kiril Petkov sealed a coalition government, consisting of four political parties. The draft government document was handed over to President Rumen Radev by the We Continue the Change (PP) party. Petkov commented: “Zero tolerance for corruption will be the motto of our coalition.” The country’s parliament is set to vote the government into power on 13 December. Radev advised the new coalition partners: “You and the coalition partners have a responsibility to reform the vicious power model inherited from 12 years of authoritarian rule, to tackle corruption and lawlessness, the inequalities and poverty they create.” Responding to the same, Petkov said: “It is time, after 32 years, that Bulgarians saw power-holders who care for them; it is time young Bulgarians abroad saw Bulgaria as a promising place to return to, and our parents saw Bulgaria as a place where they can have a worthy pension and live their old age with dignity.” (“Bulgaria: Anti-corruption party leader asked to form government,” Deutsche Welle, 11 December 2021)
MALTA
Possession and cultivation of cannabis to be legalized
On 13 December, The Guardian reported that Malta would be the first European country legalizing the possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal use, beating Luxembourg. The law will come into effect over the weekend after a vote favouring the legislation is held on 14 December. According to the new law, seven grams of cannabis can be possessed by those 18 years and above; four plants of the drug can be grown while up to 50 grams of the dried product can be stocked up. The Maltese Minister for Research, Innovation and the Coordination of the Post-COVID-19 Strategy Owen Bonnici stated: “There is a wave of understanding now that the hard-fist approach against cannabis users was disproportionate, unjust and it was rendering a lot of suffering to people who are leading exemplary lives. But the fact that they make use on a personal basis of cannabis is putting them in the jaws of criminality… I’m very glad that Malta will be the first country which will put words in statute in a comprehensive manner with a regulatory authority.” (Daniel Boffey, “Malta to legalize cannabis for personal use in European first,” The Guardian, 13 December 2021)
TURKEY
Lira suffers steep fall
On 13 December, Turkey saw its currency falling by seven percent in reference to USD. The crash of 14.99 lira to the dollar follows the increased concerns over Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s ‘political influence’ over the central bank. The lira which saw a fall did later rebound but only by a slight margin. In the background of growing pressure from Erdogan, the central bank has functioned off four percent on its policy rates since September. The policy rate refers to the rate of interest central banks charge commercial banks when money is being lent to the latter. The Turkish economy has witnessed an inflation rate of 21.3 percent in November alone. According to Erdogan, economic growth can be achieved only via slashing interest rates and believes high interest rates spike inflation. (“Turkish lira tumbles to new record low,” Deutsche Welle, 13 December 2021)
REGIONAL
EU considering fresh sanctions against Russia
On 13 December, as EU foreign ministers meet at Brussels, there is a possibility of a fresh set of economic sanctions to be considered against Russia. Options before the EU include ‘travel bans and the freezing of assets for members of Russia’s political elite’. Plans also consider sanctioning the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. After attending the G7 meeting, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock confirmed the same, warning: “In the event of further escalation this gas pipeline could not come into service.” These measures are being considered as deterrence while the ‘strongest of measures’ will be imposed if Russia invades Ukraine. The EU’s Foreign Policy Chief Josep Borrell said: “We are in deterrent mode… In any case, we will send a clear signal that any aggression against Ukraine will have a high cost for Russia.” The new round of sanctions is most likely to be coordinated with the UK, and the US. On 12 December, the G7 foreign ministers who had arrived at Liverpool for talks commented on the same, saying: “Russia should be in no doubt that further military aggression against Ukraine would have massive consequences and severe cost in response.” (“EU foreign ministers mull Russia sanctions,” Deutsche Welle, 13 December 2021; Hans von der Burchard, “G7 warns Russia of ‘massive consequences’ if it attacks Ukraine,” POLITICO, 12 December)
Scholz received by Morawiecki on inaugural visit
On 12 December, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Poland’s Warsaw as part of his inaugural visit. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki received the Chancellor with military honours. The talks focused on the Poland-Belarus migrant crisis, where Scholz condemned Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for his “inhumane and we have a common task to repudiate such acts”. Morawiecki responded to Scholz’s comment: “I described to the Chancellor the changed tactics that the Lukashenko regime is now using in this artificially triggered migration crisis, the use of people as living shields, as weapons.” Speaking on the Russia-Ukraine border standoff, Scholz commented: “It is important that Europe makes clear together that we will not accept this and that we do not agree with what is happening there… We will not accept a violation of those orders.” Confirming the commitment to providing Ukraine with gas transits after Nord Stream 2 becomes functional, he said: “We continue to feel responsible for ensuring that Ukraine’s gas transit business remains successful.” The meeting between the heads coincided with the 30-year anniversary of the Treaty of Good Neighbourship and Friendly Cooperation between the two countries. Scholz's visit to Warsaw followed his trips to Paris and Brussels. (“Germany's Olaf Scholz visits Poland amid growing differences,” Deutsche Welle, 13 December 2021)