Protests against Hartz IV reforms

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The Protests against Hartz IV reforms in Germany were protests against the 2004 Hartz IV reform, which provide for significant cutbacks in social welfare benefits for long-term (over 12 months) unemployed persons.

The demonstrations started on 2 August, when about 10,000 people took part. In two weeks, over 100,000 people marched in over 100 German cities and towns, mostly in Eastern Germany (former GDR), which would suffer the most under the conditions of the rising unemployment. In September, it reached 10.5% nationwide, while peaking 18.2% in Eastern Germany; the participation usually mirrors the level of unemployment in the respective area. In 2005, fewer demonstrations took place, only every second Monday of a month. On the downside, neofascists started using the agitation of the workless people for their propaganda.

The demonstrations were arranged and named Monday demonstrations in an analogy with the 1989/1990 Monday demonstrations in the GDR. Some considered this adaption to be political abuse, pointing out that these reforms are a "necessary evil" to deal with the crisis of the welfare system, and call it inadequate that protests for democracy are turned into protests for more social benefits. The supporters of the rallies denounce this criticism as an attempt to stifle the protests of the affected people.