Monday demonstrations, 2004
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The Monday demonstrations of 2004 (German: Montagsdemonstrationen im Jahr 2004) in Germany were protests against the Hartz IV reform, which provide for significant cutbacks in social security 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 most under the conditions of the rising unemployment. In September, it reached 10.5% statewide, while peaking 18.2% in eastern Germany.
The demonstrations were arranged and named so in an analogy with the 1989/1990 Monday demonstrations in GDR. Some considered this analogy to be a political abuse, pointing out that these reforms are necessary evil to deal with the crisis of the welfare system. The supporters of the rallies denounce this criticism as an attempt to stifle the protests of the affected people.
