Greece
protests grow before latest austerity vote
As
tens of thousands of people take to the streets, Greek finance
minister implores MPs to back €13.5bn package in parliament
6
November, 2012
Facing
its greatest challenge since assuming power in June, Greece's fragile
coalition government is heading for a cliffhanger vote on fresh
austerity measures with the country paralysed by a 48-hour general
strike. Tens of thousands of people took to the streets on Tuesday to
protest over policies that have increased poverty and unemployment.
With
Greece's eurozone future dependent on passage of the €13.5bn
package, the finance minister, Yiannis Stournaras, implored wavering
MPs to back the bill, saying it was the only way of assuring
debt-stricken Athens did not default on its mountain of debt.
"The
country has to adopt this package of measures to which it has
committed to avoid bankruptcy," the technocrat told a
parliamentary committee on the eve of the ballot. "We are now at
the most crucial crossroads and we have to make the right decision.
The road ahead is difficult and steep but it is our historic
responsibility to complete the effort that we have begun."
International
creditors at the EU and IMF say adoption of the budget cuts is
crucial to releasing €31.5bn in rescue funds that are desperately
needed by a state whose coffers are due to run dry by 16 November.
The
country's embattled prime minister, Antonis Samaras, has pledged the
measures "will be the very last" to be imposed on a nation
whose disposable income has dropped by an estimated 35% since the
eruption of Europe's debt crisis in Athens three years ago. But with
pensions and wages set to be slashed, taxes increased and the
retirement age raised, the promise has fallen on deaf ears with
unions and anti-bailout forces, led by the radical left main
opposition Syriza party, vowing to step up opposition on the street
and in the corridors of power.
"At
any moment there could be an eruption of blind violence," said
Panos Skourletis, Syriza's spokesman. "Even if these measures
are passed," he added referring to the package which is expected
to be endorsed, if narrowly, by Athens' 300-seat house, "they
will never be able to enforce them because Greeks are at the end of
their tether."
Unionists
described Tuesday's peaceful demonstrations – which drew as many as
40,000 people according to police – as a "dress rehearsal"
for the fiery protests that would coincide with the vote on
Wednesday.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.