Tag Archives: austerity
Thousands protest to end evictions in Spain
AFP
Feb. 16, 2012
Thousands of people demonstrated in Spanish cities on Saturday pushing for a new law to end a wave of evictions of homeowners ruined by the economic crisis.
Several thousand marched yelling to the din of drums and horns in central Madrid, waving banners reading “Stop evictions” and yelling “We have no homes!”
Similar protests were called in Barcelona and 50 other Spanish cities, the latest of months of demonstrations driven by anger at Spain‘s recession and the conservative government, which is imposing austere economic reforms.
Campaigners passed a rare milestone on Tuesday when the Spanish parliament agreed to debate a popular bill of measures to protect poor homeowners, backed by a petition that received more than 1.4 million signatures.
Workers Across Europe Synchronize Protests
New York Times
Nov. 14, 2012
By RAPHAEL MINDER
MADRID — Workers across Europe mounted coordinated protests on Wednesday against government austerity policies in a time of economic malaise.
In Spain and Portugal, workers staged general strikes. Unions in Greece, Italy, France and Belgium joined in protests and work stoppages to show solidarity with striking workers elsewhere.
The breadth of the demonstrations, which affected scores of cities, reflected widespread unhappiness with high unemployment, slowing growth and worsening economic prospects in Europe, and the resistance that European governments confront as they push plans for more belt tightening. Occasional clashes with the police were reported in some cities.
Greece passes new spending cuts amid protests
Los Angeles Times
Nov. 7, 2012
By Anthee Carassava
ATHENS — As tens of thousands of protesters shouting “Resist!” swarmed the streets outside, Greece’s Parliament on Wednesday narrowly approved its toughest batch of spending cuts yet in order to secure vital bailout funding from its European peers.
The legislation, including a controversial slate of fiscal and structural measures intended to save the state about $17 billion and ward off a messy financial collapse, was backed by 153 lawmakers of the 300-seat Parliament. Voting no were 128 lawmakers, including three from the conservative and leftist parties supporting the ruling coalition government.
“Yes,” Prime Minister Antonis Samaras told Parliament, “some of these spending cuts are unfair.”
London protesters bash Britain’s austerity drive
Associated Press
Oct. 20, 2012
By Raphael Slatter
LONDON (AP) — Tens of thousands of demonstrators descended on the British capital Saturday in a noisy but peaceful protest at a government austerity drive aimed at slashing the nation’s debt.
Unions, anti-war campaigners, left-wing leaders, community groups and other activists poured down London’s streets in a demonstration against reductions to public sector spending which officials are pushing through in order to rein in the Britain’s debt, which stands at more than 1 trillion pounds ($1.7 trillion).
Although the austerity program has had some modest successes — the country’s deficit has dropped slightly — the U.K. economy has shrunk for three consecutive quarters amid cuts at home and economic turmoil on the continent.
Clashes erupt at Greece protests
AFP
Sept. 26, 2012
ATHENS – Police and masked youths clashed in Athens on Wednesday during a nationwide strike in protest at a new round of austerity cuts introduced in return for crucial EU-IMF loans.
Gangs of youths threw firebombs, smashed windows and set fire to garbage on the sidelines of the demonstration near luxury hotels on the capital’s central Syntagma square.
The police responded by firing tear gas and stun grenades to disperse them.
Dozens of people were detained, according to a police source, as crowds moved towards the capital’s other central square, Omonia, booing and throwing plastic bottles at the special forces that were present.
Spain Protesters Storm Parliament As They Rage Against Austerity, Many Beaten By Police
Associated Press
Sept. 25, 2012
By ALAN CLENDENNING
MADRID — Spain’s government was hit hard by the country’s financial crisis on multiple fronts Tuesday as protestors enraged with austerity cutbacks and tax hikes clashed with police near Parliament, a separatist-minded region set elections seen as an independence referendum and the nation’s high borrowing costs rose again
More than 1,000 riot police blocked off access to the Parliament building in the heart of Madrid, forcing most protesters to crowd nearby avenues and shutting down traffic at the height of the evening rush hour.
Police used batons to push back some protesters at the front of the march attended by an estimated 6,000 people as tempers flared, and some demonstrators broke down barricades and threw rocks and bottles toward authorities.
Greek judges stop work to protest austerity
Reuters
Sept. 17, 2012
ATHENS (Reuters) – Greek judges went on strike on Monday, kicking off a series of walkouts by state employees ranging from doctors to tax officials in protest at wage cuts and labor reforms demanded by international lenders in exchange for more aid.
Judges were hearing only cases nearing the statute of limitations and are expected to continue their labor action throughout this week, potentially delaying thousands of cases waiting to be heard by the already overstretched legal system.
“We are determined to defend our current wages,” the judges’ associations said in a statement. “We won’t tolerate the downgrading of the judges.”
Greek police block riot police in anti-austerity protest
Reuters
Sept. 6, 2012
(Reuters) – Greek police protesting against austerity cuts blocked the entrance to the riot police headquarters on Thursday, preventing buses carrying riot police from leaving for the site of major demonstrations this weekend.
Scuffles broke out as riot police tried to clear the entrance of several dozen police union members – many in uniform – chanting anti-austerity slogans and holding banners.
“They would not let riot police buses depart for Thessaloniki,” a police official said, referring to the northern city hosting a weekend trade fair where anti-austerity demonstrations are planned.
