Across Europe, governments are busy turning protest into a luxury that few can afford.
Take Albania. People there have recently taken to the streets over corruption and the soaring cost of living, among other things. The spark was a scandal involving Donald Trump’s son-in-law and the construction of a giant resort in a protected area. And a few days ago, Albania brought in a fine of 5,500 euros.
Yes, you read that right. Anyone taking part in a protest that turns violent will be hit with a crippling fine worth six months’ work, in a country where the average gross wage is a miserable, measly 930 euros.
As for those who say it’s the clashes that carry the price tag, not the protest itself, they might want to stop and think: how is any protester supposed to know what’s in store at any given rally?
France, mind you, has shown a similarly delicate touch, and was the inspiration for Albania’s upcoming law to boot. Having sent police and soldiers onto the streets to deal with the days-long protests convulsing the country, it voted through a bill last Wednesday making protesters financially liable for any damage caused during street demonstrations.
And Cyprus? A few months ago, it too pushed for, and eventually passed, extremely harsh legislation and restrictions on protest.
Our law drew a fierce response from the OSCE, which issued a scathing opinion describing it as a dangerous, anti-democratic step backwards for our country. That intervention led to what was perhaps the fastest legislative amendment Cyprus has ever seen.
Cyprus’s law, too, carries an exorbitant fine of 5,000 euros and/or two years in prison for anyone who, with their face covered, does something that could turn a peaceful gathering ugly.
When the streets are overflowing with anger at the state’s own policies, the answer cannot be the full weight of the state’s repression, and a fine.
