Germans protest austerity package

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=130208§ionid=351020604



As protests continue across Europe, thousands have taken to the streets of Berlin condemning Chancellor Angela Merkel's austerity package that includes pension cuts.

Amid opposition against Merkel's government, more than 20,000 angry protestors participated in Sunday's demonstration, which was dubbed "this is not social justice."

Trade unions and left-wing opposition groups organized the demonstrations in the streets of Berlin and Stuttgart with placards reading "The crisis is called capitalism."

The angry protestors slammed cuts on wages, pensions and benefits.

"We are trying to say that those, who are responsible for the crisis and have profited from the crisis have to put more into the solution of the crisis so it includes the banks and huge firms and people who are wealthy and don't pay enough taxes yet," one of the protest organizers told Press TV.

Earlier, Merkel had announced an austerity package to cut government spending by 80 billion Euros in the next four years. The Chancellor said that she did not expect any opposition to her policy as people were aware that the federal debt needed to be reduced. However, all political parties have voiced fierce criticism since.

"This is not a saving package, but a cut in distribution, which will be very tough on many people, especially those who are already poor," said a disappointed demonstrator.