Tag Archives: Greece
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.”
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.
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.
