Anti-austerity protests will spread across Europe

Rallying is planned to take place on Wednesday, with Spain and Portugal already striking against austerity measures

15:35 14 November 2012

Strikes are expected to spread across Europe on Wednesdayaffecting Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy as well as other EU countries, in a bid to protest against the new instalment of austerity measures. Workers are thought to be demonstrating against cuts, unemployment and tax increases.

 

The news comes as cuts and tax rises have recently been announced, reportedly in a bid for governments to seek funding from the likes of the EU. At the start of this week, a fifth austerity bundle was backed by MP’s.

 

Based on reports, many groups are to rally on the same day, but unions in Spain and Portugal started late Tuesday night leading up to the early hours of Wednesday.

 

There has already been an outbreak of violence in certain cities in Spain, where it is understood some arrests were made. The country has already suffered one general strike in the last eight months over cuts.

 

Portugal saw demonstrators take to the streets in the early hours of Wednesday morning

 

It is understood that European flights have been affected and that some airlines have even cancelled their schedules.

 

The unions for Italy and Greece are also thought to have plans for rallying against the austerity packages. Although Greece has its own debt crisis, there is apparently a demonstration planned to take place on Wednesday on Athens.

 

Greece could suffer its third large protest of this kind in as little as around eight weeks.