Europe’s Leaders Vow Economic Relief, Fearing Unrest

Nonetheless, many in Europe have begun to worry that as the economic cost of support for Ukraine grows, popular support could turn against governments that support Ukraine.

Protests are already being planned in Germany by the far right and the country’s leading left-wing party, Die Linke. Some unions have also vowed to protest, should the latest government measures not ease the problems facing lower income citizens.

“I hope that unions and other progressive players find a way to articulate their concerns in a constructive way,” said Vincent Sipeer, 21, a student in Berlin. If not, he worries, some with economic anxieties might end up aligning with groups demanding reconciliation with Russia.

Germany is relatively well prepared for the winter, having managed to fill its gas storage to over 80 percent, and with a slew of national energy saving measures already imposed. But inflation is still hitting hard, reaching nearly 8 percent in August, its highest in four decades.

Article source: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/04/world/europe/europe-economy-ukraine-war.html