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Latest update: 12/03/2010
- Greece - strike
Violence erupts as Greeks stage general strike
Police clashed with protesters on Thursday as thousands marched in a second national strike against government plans to cut spending and raise taxes to shrink the huge deficit and get Greece's faltering economy back on track.
Violence erupted on the fringes of a Greek protest against government austerity measures Thursday, with riot police firing tear gas at hooded youths who hurled firebombs and vandalised stores.
Clashes erupted at the start of a union protest and outside the nation's parliament as Greece was gripped by a second general strike in two weeks.
Soon afterwards more youths broke out of a 300-strong anarchist bloc and attacked police outside parliament, vandalising a dozen stores in the surrounding area, police said.
Widespread discontent
Hundreds of riot police were deployed across Athens as Greece’s two largest labour unions called on millions of workers to strike against unpopular and painful austerity measures proposed by the government to resolve the country’s acute debt crisis.
Greece’s private sector union GSEE and its public sector sister ADEDY, which represent half of the country’s labour force, have rejected the government’s massive spending cuts and tax hikes announced last week.
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou’s government is struggling to get to grips with the country’s spiralling budget deficit, which amounted to12.7 percent of output last year, and a national debt of nearly 300 billion euros.
EU policymakers, rating agencies and financial markets have welcomed the latest austerity package, but want to see it implemented quickly and smoothly. For that to take place, public support is crucial.
Paralysed
Nathalie Saverias, FRANCE 24’s correspondent in Athens, said national anger at the austerity measures was mounting. “People say they cannot tolerate these measures, which will affect every member of Greek society.”
Public transport was paralysed in Athens Thursday, with no buses or trams running. Only one underground train line was operational in the capital.
Hospitals were manned by skeleton staff and only admitted emergency cases. Schools, hospitals, museums and archaeological sites were also closed for the 24-hour strike.
Even journalists went on strike, with the national news agency ANA stopping its tickers, while newspaper staff took to the streets with the rest.
Tax and rubbish collectors have been on strike since the start of the week.
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Comments (3)
hot fingers
I think it is time the Greek politicians take their hands out of the cookie jar and stop putting the people's money in their pockets!!! And start putting the money back into the country for the people!!!
I wish you well Greece ....
Yes, the background information is crucial when a historical country like Greece is facing some very tough time . the first question I would rise would be : how far do greek people "willing" to do to work out their national crisis ?
It never works when everyone only take but no one wants to give , both parties ... Greek people and their government , I do not agree with strikes at the painful time like these, strikes give the "wrong" messages to the rest of the world ,put those "would like to help" countries off , if they want to get out ..or at least , reduce their deficits , then put it in the plain and simple term ... get the nation to calm down and do some maths !
Greece's Future
Prime Minister Papendreou will have to unite the people somehow. Belt-tightening will be required. Tourism will continue to the islands. The Defence Budget should be reduced. (Distrust of Turkey is endemic however in all age groups. This attitude seems to be entrenched as is evidenced by the Cyprus imbroglio. You can lead a Greek horse to peaceful waters but you can't make him drink.) Corruption should be cracked down on. The Black Economy should be mopped up and the shadow money directed into the legitimate tax base. Corruption is rife. People have to pay "fakelakis" for upgraded hospital treatment.
Diaspora Greeks will not reach into their pockets to bail out their cousins. (Nana Mouskouri's effort is noble but insignificant as she is in a different situation than most. When push comes to shove people tend to worry about their own backyard.) They sympathise but would only respond financially or physically if Greece was attacked in a war situation. The Orthodox Church still holds a lot of sway in the country. If the Patriarch comes out and supports the government's moves and advises his underlings to do the same the religious base will respond. The students feel they are untouchable. The anarchists and groups like November 17 et al. are the real dangerous fire starters. The Unions and Public Service have become way too comfortable. There are many hard-working, decent, law-abiding, taxpaying private sector citizens. The police and judiciary must be respected. The military should sit things out and worry about national security. The EYP, Εθνική Υπηρεσία Πληροφοριών, have their hands full and are waking up to prevailing power structures. The CDS traders and foreign bankers are not the cause of the problems.
Interesting times...Astanapanix ! Δεν υπάρχει πρόβλημα
P.S. The call for the Greeks to sell their islands is delinquent rabble-rousing. It would be like China buying Yellowstone and putting up flags in the midst of the USA. American patriots would quite rightly be up in arms. National Sovereignty is a vital concept for global health.
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