Tens of thousands of Greeks poured into the streets yesterday as mass strikes paralysed Athens in the latest show of anger over a new austerity Bill aimed at securing international aid needed to prevent the debt-crippled nation from defaulting.
These measures essentially bring us many years back
Lawmakers were debating the controversial austerity package, which proposes €18.5 billion in new spending cuts and other reforms by 2016, adding to previous rounds of painful measures as the country heads for its sixth year in recession.
Police and anti-riot troops were out in force around parliament and government offices in Athens, in case trouble arose from a demonstration called by the country’s two main unions to coincide with the start of a 48-hour general strike.
The demonstration, however, ended without incident.
A public transport work stoppage that began on Monday widened yesterday, with bus workers joining taxi drivers as well as metro, tram and train workers in the strike, paralysing traffic in the capital.
Many flights were cancelled or rescheduled as air traffic controllers staged a three-hour work stoppage. Ferry services were also crippled, while ships linking to Greece’s islands remained docked.
Judges and lawyers also joined the strike while publicly run museums, archaeological sites and post offices were shut.
Police estimated that 40,000 people turned out at the Athens rally on Syntagma Square near parliament, with banners baring slogans such as “No to measures of impoverishment” and “The people above everything else – not numbers and measures.” In the northern city of Thessaloniki, 20,000 joined a march.
“The people came here today to protest against the measures that bring us back centuries. They are abolishing our rights, and depriving our children’s future,” said teacher Thanassis Pargas in Athens.
Alexis Tsipras, leader of the main radical left opposition party Syriza, who took part in the protest, said Greece’s coalition Government was “ridiculing” the constitution.
The austerity bill was submitted to Parliament on Monday and will be voted on today.
Measures include a rise in the retirement age to 67 from the current 65, and cuts of five to 10 per cent in pensions of more than €1,000 a month.
Civil servants’ 13th and 14th month pay would be scrapped, and further salary cuts would be imposed on academics, hospital doctors, judges, diplomats and members of the armed forces.
“These measures essentially bring us many years back. All the labour rights the Greek people won post-World War II and post-dictatorship are taken back,” said union activist Marie Lavrentiadou.
Implementing the austerity plan is a condition for Greece to receive a €31.5 billion tranche of bailout funds from its troika of international creditors – the EU, International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank.
Without it, Greece risks running out of money on November 16 when a debt repayment falls due.
Securing the next aid tranche is “necessary to avoid default and bankruptcy,” Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras said yesterday.