Across several Austrian cities people took to the streets to protest the high cost of living. According to workers unions organizing the event, more than 32,000 demonstrators participated on Saturday.

“It’s really hard for me to afford my apartment with the high gas and electricity prices,” university student Alexandra Schwarz told CGTN at Vienna’s Schweizergarten.

“I can’t afford groceries,” another young woman added.

Among higher salaries and bigger pensions, Austria’s unions are demanding solidarity between their employers and the government. Many signs being waved around the city stated that while consumers can’t pay their bills energy companies are raking in record profits.

Police brought more officers onto the streets in case of possible riots as several radical far-right leaders called on their supporters to join the demonstrations. But after the protest marches ended the police reported no violent incidents.

At 9.3 percent, inflation in the Alpine republic is the highest in 50 years. Austria’s government has adopted several aid measures recently, such as the $500 payment given to every citizen to help pay household bills. But critics have argued that the government is reacting too late and not doing enough to tackle the energy crisis.

Marcus Scheiblecker from the Austrian Institute of Economic Research says he would like to see more targeted measures. “Austria implemented a lump-sum payment to provide very quick help which was not targeted to poor households,” the economist told CGTN.

“Although the government also implemented a subsidy for the electricity bill which is a bit better targeted,” Scheiblecker added.

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