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Countrywide protests against high fuel prices go up to European level

Mon, May 26 2008 18:01 CET byElitsa Grancharova 715 Views

Truck and bus driver protests in Bulgaria continued on May 26, with more drivers from across the country joining various protests against increasing fuel prices and excise duties. The drivers demanded a "transport crisis situation" to be declared in Bulgaria, private broadcaster bTV reported.

Transport companies demanded excise duties to be lowered to previous levels and tax-vignettes for transport vehicles to be removed or for the prices of these vignettes to be agreed with the drivers.

Additionally, transport companies asked the state to stop licensing new road carriers for a period of six months.

The strikes in Bulgaria are from an isolated case. Increased fuel prices led to more general price increases of all goods and became a reason for Greek pensioners to go on strike as well.

Fishermen in Spain announced they would protest in the centre of Madrid if the government did not take measures. Their Portuguese colleagues also threatened with protests.

French fishermen went on strike and blocked ports over increasing fuel prices. In response, the French government promised to partially decrease the tax and social security burdens in the most affected sectors.

Hungarian drivers, who were on strike on May 23, threatened to continue their strike if the government did not meet their demands. The diesel price in Hungary was among the highest in Europe, protesters said.

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