The second wave of pandemic
The second wave of pandemic In response to the fierce second wave of the pandemic, European countries have once again adopted strict pandemic prevention measures.
The Spanish government and the Italian government each announced a new round of measures last week
but protests and demonstrations broke out in the two countries in recent days.
Why do people in Spain and Italy take to the streets one after another, and where does their anger come from?
The British “Guardian” reported on November 1 that the economic recession and people’s “exhaustion” in responding to the pandemic may be triggering a “social crisis.”
Violent activities in anti-“blockade” protests
On October 25, the Spanish government once again declared a state of emergency and imposed a curfew to curb the second round of coronavirus pandemic; on October 29, the Spanish Parliament approved the extension of the state of emergency for six months.
The restrictions caused dissatisfaction among some people, and protests broke out in several cities across Spain. According to reports from the Spanish newspaper “Nation” and the news website TheLocal, the protests in some cities in Spain on October 31 turned into “robbing and vandalism”.
In the capital Madrid, dozens of demonstrators chanted “freedom”, burned trash cans and set up temporary roadblocks to prevent police from entering; Logrono the north, demonstrators smashed shop windows and looted shops; Malaga in the south,
The demonstrators threw bottles at the police, a series of vandalism has caused dozens of police injuries.
On October 30, 2020 a large-scale violent demonstration broke out in Barcelona, Spain, to protest coronavirus “blockade” measures.
On the same day, some radical demonstrators clashed with the police, raising a roadside roadblock and throwing them at the police, throwing incendiary bombs at the police.
After the Italian government announced new regulations on pandemic prevention on October 26, protests and demonstrations broke out in the capital Rome, Naples, Florence, Milan, Turin and other major cities.
local Italian media reports : a protest involving at least hundreds of people broke out in Florence on the evening of the 30th local time.
The local riot police was sent to stop and disperse the crowd and clashed with the demonstrators. The protesters chanted “freedom” and spoke to the riot control.
The police threw flares, glass bottles and Molotov cocktails. Italian Prime Minister Conte called the protest a “surreal, terrifying and painful night”, while Florence’s Dario Nardella said he had “never seen anything like this.”
The second wave of the pandemic may hit the economic recovery
In the second quarter from April to June this year, Spain’s economy stagnated due to the pandemic and pandemic prevention measures. After a period of substantial decline, with the relaxation of measures, the Spanish economy rebounded from July to September.
According to a report in Spain’s National newspaper, since the complete lifting of the blockade at the end of June, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 16.7% in the third quarter of 2020. Manufacturing, investment, household consumption and hotel services Income has rebounded.
The data we currently see show that the economy is recovering strongly
“The data we currently see show that the economy is recovering strongly.” Spanish Minister of Economy Nadia Calvinho said that although GDP growth is undeniable, it is impossible to predict how the economy will develop in the future.
She said in an interview with the Spanish newspaper La Nacional, “Whether in Europe or the global level, we are facing a huge moment of uncertainty.”
Angel Talavera, head of European analysis at Oxford Economics, also said “Strictly speaking, Spain is coming out of economic recession, but this does not mean there is reason to celebrate. As the’blockade’ measures become stricter, the second wave of pandemic may cause more damage.”
The situation in Italy is also not optimistic. “The Guardian” reported that for companies that have been affected by the
“blockade” this spring, “whether they can resume business” has become their biggest doubt.
The measures announced by the government this time include closing bars and restaurants at 6 pm
and completely closing gyms, swimming pools, cinemas, theaters and ski resorts, which aroused opposition from related industries.
Protests broke out in Florence, Italy on the evening of October 30th, opposing the
government’s recent pandemic prevention and control decree.
Because the event was not approved in advance, the local police sent riot police to stop and disperse the crowds.
In the process, clashes broke out between the two sides and a total of 12 protesters were arrested.
The second wave of pandemic
The second wave of pandemic The leaders of the Valle d’Aosta region in northern Italy condemned the closure of ski resorts as a
“serious blow to the mountain economy”, while the mayor of Naples in the south said that the closure
of cinemas and theaters would “stifle culture”.
“The important thing now is time and (guests) number. We need rapid support.” Paul Bianchini,
president of a local hotel industry association in Italy, said that bars and restaurants are the economic
lifeblood of many Italian towns, but they are affected by the pandemic.
The passenger flow has fallen. At present, 50% of restaurants may not be able to open after the
“blockade” measures are lifted because their costs far exceed revenue.
“Anxious” People and “Social Crisis”
What kind of blow will the economy that may “deteriorate again” cause to the people? The Guardian reported that due to the economic recession, some people have “lost confidence” in the government’s restrictive measures.
and various dissatisfaction has triggered various localities in the country.
Protest and demonstrate. Pino Esposito, the barber who led a group of small industrial and commercial protesters in Naples
But they have not made any preparations for schools
health systems and employment fields, and we have not received the financial support promised by the government.”
With the long-term impact of the pandemic, the Italian people are falling into “anxiety.”
According to a poll published by the Guardian, more than three-quarters of
Italians believe that more violence will break out on the streets this winter.
Italian writer Roberto Saviano
Italian writer Roberto Saviano said: “When the first lockdown
the Italians agreed that this was a brand new emergency situation
He thinks, “Now the mood is completely different. The situation at the time was
“We must abide by the rules and protect ourselves, otherwise we will perish”
“but now some people think that if I can’t survive financially , I’m going to go bankrupt anyway.”
The former mayor of Venice, Massimo Cachari, said that in addition to the public crisis, there was another “social crisis”. He said: “(This crisis) is causing differences in income and living conditions
which is completely incompatible with what we call democracy” !
