Thousands demand in the torchlight procession: Future instead of crisis! in Vienna!

Thousands demand in the torchlight procession: Future instead of crisis! in Vienna!

On Wednesday evening, April 30, 2025, the torchlight procession of the Socialist Youth Vienna took place, in which around 5,500 people took part. The gathered people, including many young people, met in front of the Vienna State Opera to set an example for a better future. This year's motto of the torchlight procession was "Future instead of crisis!", Which reflects the central message of this protest. This reports OTS .

rihab Toumi, the chairwoman of the socialist youth Vienna, gave an urgent speech at the final rally on Rathausplatz. It addressed the current crises, including the climate crisis, the inflation, wars, the educational crisis and right -wing extremism. She critically questioned the existing system, which in her opinion put profits about people's well -being and thus produce poverty. Furthermore, she pointed out the low turnout in the last vienna election, which was only 40 percent and explained the need for changes. In her appeal, she called for a better and crisis -free future.

crises and protests

The protests have gained diversity in recent years, especially through the climate movement, which has brought new life into social mobilization. This also becomes clear in relation to the protests against the demolition of Lützerath in Braunkohlerevier in the Rhineland, which took place in January 2023. Sebastian Hauns points out that the climate movement in Germany has not yet achieved its goal of moving politics to comply with the 1.5 degree goal. The challenges are also similar in Austria, since social movements are often structurally weak and need social majorities to enforce their demands. The volatility of public opinion is reinforced by the topic of the topic, such as the Corona pandemic or the Ukraine conflict, which makes it difficult to mobilize, such as BPB reported.

The climate movement is currently facing a variety of competing topics that attract the public attention. At the same time, the coexistence of different forms of protest is concise, with groups like the "last generation" increasingly polarized in their methodology. Traffic blocks and civil disobedience are both supported and heavily criticized. The partly radical approach to the protest is considered as necessary and considered a hindrance by the others.

The need for changes, however, remains undeniable, as the torchlight procession in Vienna shows, where the call for a sustainable and fairer future can be heard loud and clearly. Participation of thousands is a strong sign of the growing awareness and the determination of people who want to play a role in the fight against the various crises of civil society both in Vienna and beyond the borders of the country.