Union Protest in Greece

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Union Protest in Greece

Greece was blocked once more on Wednesday by protests against the government as thousands of angry workers took it to the streets to protest against the vote in parliament that would implement deeper public sector cuts in order to save the economy of the country, seriously jolted by the economic crisis that engulfed Europe.

Protestors massed outside the parliament building and in different rallying points throughout the capital of Greece preparing for the protest that is expected to occur later in the day, as the parliament begins to vote. The riot police is bracing for a new wave of violence.

The Greek Prime Minister Georgios Papandreou appealed to the people to show support and solidarity with the new measures imposed by the International Monetary Fund, and the European Commission in order for the new tranche of money to be delivered to the Greek government.

Papandreou demanded the Greeks, especially those working in the public sector, to accept layoffs, wage cuts and tax raises.

The population of Greece refuses to show any sign of solidarity with the political landscape, accusing those who have ruled the country of corruption and incompetence.

The unions, the opposition and some economists consider that the government led by Papandreou is going the wrong way about it, deepening the country further into recession by continuingly cutting the wages and raising taxes. They also demanded that the Socialist government stepped down.

The union that set up the general strike announced that this is going to be the most serious labor action in two years, since the economic crisis engulfed Greece. The 48-hour strike will shut down government departments, businesses, public services and even shops and bakeries. About 150 domestic and international flights have been cancelled.

Police is also getting ready, mobilizing 5,000 police troops, which will be deployed in Athens, and 2,000 held in reserve.

People in the street say that these measures are going to kill the people of Greece slowly. Reuters interviewed a 75-year-old pensioner who said that “it will be war” today, and that he was going to attend it.

The students and the Communists also joined the protests of the union workers, demanding that power be given to the people and that the government fell.

Greece has deepened into economic crisis over the past few years, with the public debt coming to be 162 percent of the gross domestic product, a figure no one believes Greece will ever be able to overcome.

On Wednesday, Greece must vote on the austerity package that would make it possible for the European Union to create a set of rules for a new rescue package that could be discussed at a summit on Sunday on the possibilities to save the eurozone if Greece goes into default.

People in the streets are not the only ones to compare the situation in Greece these days to a war. Papandreou himself compared it to a war in an address to the PASOK deputies Tuesday night.

The first vote on the overall bill will be held on Wednesday night, while a second vote on specific provisions will be held the next day. Papandreou has a four-seat majority in the parliament, which is considered enough to allow him to pass the new measures in parliament.

He also counts on the support of a small opposition party, in spite of the fact that a PASOK deputy resigned his commission on Monday, protesting the vote on Wednesday and two others have threatened to resign over collective wage bargaining agreements.

The development minister expressed confidence that none of his colleagues would allow the country to fall into bankruptcy and be destroyed, and that they would vote in favor of the bill in parliament.

Trapped between the economic situation and the public pressure, Papandreou’s government may be facing snap ballot in the coming months, as its approval rate wavered dramatically.

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