Greece Protest Against Austerity Measures

Thousands of demonstrators are protesting outside parliament in Syntagma Square in Athens, where members are debating a new austerity package.

Offices were closed, bank services halted, and public transport disrupted in the mass general strike by public and private sector unions.

Hospitals are offering emergency care, and airports are not participating in the strike.

The demonstration, organised by the popular protest group “The Indignants”, is modelled on a similar mobilisation in Spain.

Syntagma Square was full of Greek and Spanish national flags, and the crowd was chanting the battle cry of the Spanish civil war: “No pasaran” (They shall not pass).

Protesters have been voicing their discontent for a few days over plans for a controversial new set of austerity measures, including spending cuts and tax hikes.

Protest organisers, who have been camping in the square for three weeks, plan to form a human chain around the legislative chamber as the debates get under way.

“...We (will) encircle the parliament ... and stay at Syntagma," said the self-styled People's Assembly of Syntagma Square in a statement.

“Our first stop is the general strike of June 15. We won't stop until they withdraw [the plan].”

Greek police have deployed about 1,500 officers throughout Athens, and erected a metal barrier across the street leading to the parliament building to keep the crowd at bay and allow the deputies access to the parliament building.

Austerity Measures Needed for Financial Package

Wednesday’s discussion of a new set of austerity measures follows a meeting held on Tuesday, in which Eurozone finance ministers discussed the new bailout ahead of a self-imposed deal deadline of June 20.

The European Union (EU) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) want all Greek parties to agree on the fresh austerity measures before the meeting of EU finance ministers on June 20, and before the EU summit of June 23-24, at which leaders will discuss the new bailout to replace last year's deal.

The economy has already suffered as a result of severe austerity measures, having experienced a 5.5% fall of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the first quarter, and an unemployment rate of above 16%.

Five-Year Austerity Plan

Prime Minister George Papandreou is due to present the five-year plan on Wednesday, to be passed later in the month.

The proposals include €6.5bn worth of tax hikes and spending cuts. These are due to begin in the mid-term by introducing new luxury taxes, a crackdown on tax evasion, increased taxes on soft-drinks, cars, swimming pools and real estate, and cutting the Mediterranean state's 750,000-strong public work force by a fifth.

With these and other measures worth total savings of €28bn through 2015, it also aims to raise €50bn by selling off state-owned firms.

“I feel rage and disgust,” said 45-year-old public sector worker Maria Georgila, a mother of two.

“These are very tough measures and they won't get us out of the crisis. I can't believe they have no alternative.”

Government spokesman George Petalotis said: “We are fighting the battle to serve the common good, in the most crucial moment in the country's modern democracy.”

“We are in a vicious cycle”

Mr Papandreou’s proposed measures not only face public protests, but backbenchers in his own party, PASOK, are also threatening to reject the plan.

One deputy defected on Tuesday, reducing the party’s presence from 156 to 155 of the chamber’s 300 seats.

George Lianis expressed that he would not back the package in a letter to Parliament Speaker Filippos Petsalnikos:

“I don't believe in our economic policy any more. We have failed, and since then we have been forced to hide the truth from the people... We are in a vicious cycle,” he wrote.

“You have to be as cruel as a tiger to vote for these measures. I am not.”

The Daily Eleftherotypia newspaper wrote that it was “very difficult for them to defend the measures”.

“However, they know that voting down the mid-term fiscal plan will mean the fall of the government and possibly difficulties in our country's relations with its lenders, who are still searching for a solution to the Greek problem.”

By Millie Schurch

[Image courtesy of micromanager]