Fury as Greek austerity plan passes

13 Feb 2012, 10:03 am   -   Source: AAP
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Protesters and police have fought running battles, as Greek MPs debated severe austerity measures to stave off bankruptcy.

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Greece's parliament has voted in favour of an austerity plan demanded by international creditors to unlock a bailout aimed at saving the debt-ridden country from bankruptcy.
  
According to an AFP count, a majority of lawmakers approved the budget package even as protests by tens of thousands of Greeks opposed to the new austerity measures turned violent outside the parliament building.

Protesters and police fought running battles in central Athens, as Greek MPs debated the legislation.

The clashes broke out as tens of thousands of people, responding to calls from unions to protest the measures, streamed into Syntagma Square facing parliament.

Peaceful protesters fled to adjacent streets as a group of about 100 anarchists threw bottles, rocks, pieces of marble and firebombs at police, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades.

Police say an officer was injured by a flare shot at him from a gun. He was taken to hospital.

Among those affected by the tear gas were well-known composer Mikis Theodorakis, 86, and veteran leftist politician Manolis Glezos, 89. The two have been actively campaigning against Greece accepting a 130-billion-euro ($A160 billion) bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund that would help Greece avoid bankruptcy as early as next month, when a 14.5-billion-euro bond matures.

The legislation will also approve a bond-swapping deal with private creditors that will allow Greece to shave off at least 100 billion euros of its 360-billion-euro debt.

An ambulance picked up two injured people from the square. At least two more injuries have been reported, including a photographer who was hit by both a firebomb and a flare.

Clashes spread beyond the square to other streets. A Starbucks near the Athens University main building was set on fire.

The debate started on Sunday afternoon and will take about 10 hours, finishing about midnight (0900 AEDT Monday). At the start of the meeting, opponents of the legislation adopted a tactic of frequent and loud interruptions and objections but had calmed down by mid-evening.

Tens of thousands of protesters gathered in the square outside parliament as the debate began, with more arriving constantly.

Communist-affiliated unions held a separate meeting at the same time and started marching to parliament before halting their march as the clashes broke out.

Police fear if the communists and anarchists meet, further violence would erupt and are trying to keep the two apart. Authorities have deployed some 6000 policemen in the city centre.

Pro-Communist unionists had earlier driven through Athens' neighbourhoods, calling for people to participate in the demonstration. Protesters are expected to remain outside the building throughout the vote.

The two parties backing the coalition government have 236 deputies in the 300-member parliament, but at least 13 conservative and seven Socialist MPs have declared they will vote against the legislation, defying their leaders' threats of sanctions.

Early on Sunday, a conservative MP resigned, repeating the actions of three Socialists earlier this week.

Greece's woes have threatened its future in the 17-country zone that uses the euro currency.

The Europeans are waiting to see Greece finally act on their commitments.

German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was quoted as telling the Welt am Sonntag newspaper that Greece "cannot be a bottomless pit".

"That's why the Greeks must finally put a bottom in," he said. "Then we can put something in, too."

Highlighting previous promises he said weren't kept, the report quoted Schaeuble as saying: "That is why Greece's promises aren't enough for us any more."

Asked whether Greece has a long-term future in the eurozone, Germany's vice-chancellor told ARD television "that is now in the hands of the Greeks alone".

Philipp Roesler said in the interview, which was broadcast on Sunday, that what matters is not just Greece making pledges.

"We want ... the Greek parliament also to approve laws and, as far as possible, take the first steps to implement what has been agreed."

"Only when that happens, only then can there be new aid - and Greece urgently needs that," said Roesler, who is also Germany's economy minister.

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Your Comments

knocking on the wrong door

Mona - from Australia, 3 months ago

The Greek politicians didn't cause the financia; devastation. No matter how badly the Greeks looked after their finances and they weren't that good at it, this would never have arisen to the extent it has, if the global financial crisis had not been caused by a lack of ethics and lots of greed by american business. They contaminated and infected the world and those ideals have not changed.

Bail yourselves out Greeks

Ian S Johnston - from Wyong, 3 months ago

Greece needs and all countries need .. prudent fiscal management. Greece and a few other EURO countries did not have it. Why did the banks lend them so much that they can't pay it back? why should the average Greek be responsible for imprudent government? Why use usury to enslave them? Just say.. can't pay atm, your stand over tactics means i'm going to have to do a runner...Default, pay nothing in a dollar, sit on beach, drink ouzo.. free men again. everyone and banks will come back eventually

It's not the Greek...

Whoops - from Brisbane, 3 months ago

..it's a small group called politicians causing the problems and let people pay for their fraud.

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