Photo: socdem.cz
"If conservative, right-wing and nationalist groups gain the upper hand, these differences will deepen further. The rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer," Lubomír Zaorálek, the leader of the Social Democrats for the European Parliament elections, warned at today's press conference.
The Social Democrats are going into the European elections with the aim of raising wages in the Czech Republic. "We will push for the adoption of a European minimum wage, not just as a recommendation. At the same time, we will promote the principle that companies tax where they actually do business. This will also have an impact on wages." said Lubomír Zaorálek. He also stressed that SOCDEM will push for consistent taxation of banks. "We consider it necessary to introduce an extraordinary tax on banks, as in a number of other European countries," He added.
In his view, something similar cannot be expected from the current government. "We are second on the clientelism scale. The recent friendly meeting of the ODS and TOP 09 senators with the energy barons in the wine cellar is completely in line with this. The government is playing into their hands, and people and producers are having to pay for the most expensive energy in Europe. This is reflected in the prices of all goods," pointed out the SOCDEM election leader.
If national conservative right-wing parties gain ground in the European Parliament elections, the divide between the West and the East will widen. "Each country will defend its interests, including tax havens. Instead of breaking down the wage iron curtain, the gap between rich and poor European regions will only widen. This will be reflected in the shape of the Green Deal and who benefits from it," he explained. "It may turn out, as French President Macron aptly noted, that the European Union is deadly. For some countries it will not make sense to stay in it and continue to get poorer," Zaorálek added.
Mental health care issues
The crisis and accumulating problems are reflected in people's mental health. Inflation, unaffordable housing, energy prices are all impacting on our mental health. Sadly, according to statistics, the second most common cause of death among young people is suicide, and 40% of ninth-graders suffer from symptoms of moderate to severe depression. "There is also a serious regional lack of access to mental health care. This condition also impacts on social service workers and, ultimately, loved ones of the mentally ill. It also naturally reflects on their families," commented psychologist Manuela Haug, a nominee of the Future Movement on the Social Democrats' European elections candidate list. She also stresses the need to start reforming mental health care as soon as possible. "There is much room for improvement in mental health care at national and European level," She added that it is important to remove barriers to training for psychiatrists and clinical psychologists, to further develop mental health development centres and, above all, to ensure decent living conditions.
Pension reform requires greater comprehensiveness
"If anyone wants to do serious pension reform, it must be comprehensive. It is not just a matter of one ministry, but at least four. For example, the tax system also needs to be revised." said Lenka Desatová, candidate of the Social Democrats for the European Parliament and chairwoman of the Council of Senior Citizens of the Czech Republic. "What the government is now presenting is not reform. The government is not responding to our comments and arguments. I feel like a world champion throwing peas at the wall," commented on the changes to pensions proposed by the government.
However, housing policy, for example, also plays an important role. "Young families have nowhere to live. The public sector - municipalities, regions, cities - must participate in housing construction. After all, this is what the Social Democrats proposed at the end of the last parliamentary term. We cannot rely on the private sector for rental housing, because we know from Germany that this can result in disproportionately high rents." added Lenka Desatová. "If young families continue to live in insecurity, children will not be born and we will be dealing with pension reform again in ten years' time," She concluded.
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