Greek lawmakers allow power plant sales despite workers’ protests

Greek lawmakers on Wednesday approved the sale of power stations by the country’s dominant power utility Public Power Corp. (PPC) after workers protested at a “national crime.” A majority of lawmakers voted in favor of the bill which paves the way for PPC to begin selling plants in May, Reuters said. The move is a requirement of a multi-billion euro bailout accord between Greece and international lenders. Hundreds of PPC workers gathered outside parliament as lawmakers debated the legislation earlier on Wednesday, urging them not to allow what they said was “a fire-sale of the family silver.” The conservative opposition accused the government of bringing PPC “to the brink of disaster” and lying to its voters. Energy Minister George Stathakis defended the sale as complying with the European Union’s target to cut power generation dependence on coal in the coming years.