Greece grinds to halt amid mass austerity strike (PHOTOS)

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Published time: November 06, 2012 11:47
Edited time: November 07, 2012 01:08

Protesters from the communist-affiliated trade union PAME march outside the parliament during a rally in central Athens November 6, 2012. (Reuters/Costas Baltas)

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Austerity, Bill Dod, Conflict, Peter Oliver, Politics, Protest

A far-reaching national strike against new austerity measures has left Greece paralyzed. Thousands marched in the streets of Athens Tuesday in protest against measures that unions say will sink the country’s already-flagging economy.

The 48-hour strikes have brought most of the country to a standstill, shutting down public transport, schools and air traffic control. Hospitals are also working with skeleton crews. Broadcasts and publications were halted until further notice as journalists joined the nationwide strike.

“About 10,000 people on Syntagma square right now. More arriving. All peaceful,” RT correspondent Peter Oliver wrote on Twitter.

The rally wrapped up peacefully. Police estimate up to 40,000 people joined in.

However, the day was marred by a fire engine got attacked with Molotov cocktails in the Athens district of Exarchia, local media report. The engine was heading to put out a car in Exarchia, which had been set ablaze earlier.

Police cordoned off areas around government buildings in Athens in preparation for possible violence. Extra officers were also called for crowd control during the demonstrations.

The protests are expected to continue throughout the week, culminating on Wednesday to coincide with a parliamentary vote on the new austerity measures.

The new round of budget cuts the Greek parliament will vote on Wednesday has enraged a population already exhausted by economic belt-tightening. Athens is currently debating measures that aim to allay bankruptcy through some $17 billion in cuts by 2016.

Demonstrators shout slogans during a protest against new government austerity bill aimed at securing international aid needed to prevent the debt-crippled nation from defaulting, in Thessaloniki on November 6, 2012. (AFP Photo/Sakis Mitrolidis)

The Greek government remains divided over the issue, with the Democratic Left Party that comprises one-third of the governing coalition refusing to back the measures. The second-largest member of the union government, Pasok, has also seen dissension in its ranks, with several MPs refusing to back the package.

The measures stipulate a two-year increase in the Greek retirement age to 67, and several tax hikes. The new package also includes provisions making it easier to fire civil servants, which has provoked the ire of public workers amid a current unemployment rate of over 25 percent.

The austerity package is required for Greece to qualify for a bailout loan from the ‘Troika’ – the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

Previous austerity measures slowed Greece’s economy, shrinking its economy by one-fifth since the financial downturn began in 2007. The outlook for 2013 is bleaker still, with the country’s debt at 189 percent of GDP and further austerity looking increasingly likely.

The Greek capital has seen numerous protests over the past months, with Athenians rallying against austerity they criticize as bringing the country perilously close to collapse.

Anti-austerity demonstrations in Greece have frequently turned violent, leading to clashes between police and disgruntled youths.

Protesters from the communist-affiliated trade union PAME march outside the parliament during a rally in central Athens November 6, 2012. (Reuters/John Kolesidis)

Protesters march in front of the Greek parliament in central Athens during a rally marking the 48-hours general strike on November 6, 2012. (AFP Photo/Aris Messinis)

AFP Photo/Aris Messinis

Image from Twitter/@AZakharyan_RT

AFP Photo/Louisa Gouliamaki

Comments (48)

Alex (unregistered) 08.11.2012 03:39

OZZIE Ken (unregistered) wrote in #7
I spent 30 years working in 4 different Factories in Australia with mostly Greeks. Those saying Greeks are lazy are Idiots and none of their Business anyway.
People who are unidentified here no name no face no country of Origin can throw mud or propaganda.
Talki ng about work the Greeks worked 10 and 12 and double shifts as i did all the time and weekends and are the nicest people and hardest workers you can ever find.
Dont believe the rubbish on hear talking from their backside or religious hate or other gibberish.
The Haters go away.

Wha t a fool to think people don't know what they "hear". Try again greek but no one is buying. Which is the same for your stocks and bonds. Greece grinding to a halt is funny. What was it actually working?
Pay disability pensions to pedophiles and you deserve this mess.A disgusting place as shown by the greeks opening their big mouths on RTlooking for excuses.

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OZZIE Ken (unregistered) 07.11.2012 04:10

I spent 30 years working in 4 different Factories in Australia with mostly Greeks. Those saying Greeks are lazy are Idiots and none of their Business anyway.
People who are unidentified here no name no face no country of Origin can throw mud or propaganda.
Talki ng about work the Greeks worked 10 and 12 and double shifts as i did all the time and weekends and are the nicest people and hardest workers you can ever find.
Dont believe the rubbish on hear talking from their backside or religious hate or other gibberish.
The Haters go away.

Undo

Alex (unregistered) 07.11.2012 03:59

JOSHUA BEIDER (unregistered) wrote in #7
ALEX? OR IS IT ALEXANDER? OR IS IT STUPID FAK.
GET OUT OF HERE YOU FOOL AND CHECK UP ON YOUR MOMMY SHE JUST TOOK IT FROM A BIG UGANDAN
Alex (unregistered) wrote in #4
Max von Baden (unregistered) wrote in #1Danaos (unregistered) wrote in #18It's funny to listen to Greeks blaming others for joining the EU, for joining the euro :) Blaming others for Greeks wanting to remain in the Euro and get more handouts from Germans. Yes it's all those wicked Germans fault. They made us spend money and doctor the accounts. We Greeks are so poor and stupid how were we to know?The truth is that Greeks have paid themselves too much in pensions and welfare. They haven't paid their taxes. It's a national trait to avoid paying tax. Greeks have lived beyond there means. They got the credit card out and bought expensive villas and boats. The party is over and it's time to pay the bill. The destruction of Greece was made by Greeks. You made your bed now you must lie in your own filth or leave the Euro and accept a devalued currency. Just hope you haven't got a morgage in euros?Exactly correct. They have no one to blame but themselves. Stupid animals cannot form a proper argument against this factproperly without contradicting themselves. They joinedwith everything the West wanted. Except for paying what they owe.

The name in front of you is Alex. You need a refund on that expensiveforeign education you brag about. Except give the money back to Germany. You are happy to serve the imperialist when it suits you so don't pretend otherwise.
Too bad you don't work as hard as you post online or strike. Enjoy your continued braying like the donkey you are.

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