Rage spreads across Europe

"Citizens are losing patience," headlines Público, in the wake of yesterday’s marches against austerity in Europe. Portugal was paralysed by a general strike, Italian students took to the streets in several cities to protest against proposals to overhaul the university system, while their counterparts in the UK organised a second demonstration against cuts in third-level education and the tripling of university fees. "Stricken by feelings of vulnerability, anxiety and injustice, citizens are increasingly dissatisfied," announces the left-wing daily. "(D)emocratically elected institutions appear to be overwhelmed by the predatory ambitions of big capital, which roams from one country to the next in search of immediate profits." According to Público, our leaders are presiding over a “historic setback for social rights in Europe" and putting about "the dangerous message that we should simply sacrifice everything instead of confronting those responsible for this fiasco." On this topic, the newspaper cites the unusual method of rebellion proposed by former football star Eric Cantona, who encouraged his fellow citizens to withdraw their deposits from banks. In short, the daily insists that the wave of "rage is spreading."