Athens burns as riots spread in bailout deal protests

Published on Monday 13 February 2012 12:14

Rioting spread across central Athens and buildings went up in flames amid mass protests last night as MPs prepared to vote for a crucial debt deal needed to prevent bankruptcy.

Clashes erupted across the city centre after more than 100,000 protesters marched to parliament to rally against drastic austerity cuts that will force firing in the civil service and slash the minimum wage.

Politicians came under intense pressure from both sides, with tens of thousands of demonstrators pouring into Syntagma Square in front of parliament, while the government warned that rejection would demand “unimaginably harsher” sacrifices by Greeks.

In running battles, protesters threw bombs made from gas canisters as riot police advanced on the crowds, firing tear gas and stun grenades. Loud booms from the protests could be heard inside parliament.

TV footage showed a three-story corner building completely engulfed in flames with riot officers looking on from the street, and firefighters trying to douse the blaze.

After days of warnings and threats of rebellion, parliament began debating a bill setting out €3.3 billion (£2.7bn) in wage, pension and job cuts this year alone, to secure funds needed to avoid bankruptcy next month.

Finance minister Evangelos Venizelos told parliament Greece had no easy way out and the alternative to the international bailout – bankruptcy and a departure from the eurozone – would be far worse for Greeks.

“The choice is not between sacrifice and no sacrifices at all, but between sacrifices and unimaginably harsher ones,” he told a stormy debate expected to run well into the night.

One small party has already pulled out of the coalition of prime minister Lucas Papademos in protest against the terms of the €130bn rescue package from the European Union and International Monetary Fund.

Politicians from the two biggest government parties, socialist PASOK and conservative New Democracy, also threatened to rebel but their numbers were not enough to sink the bill.

Greece needs the international funds before 20 March to meet debt repayments of €14.5bn, or suffer a chaotic default, which could shake the entire eurozone.

But many Greeks believe their living standards are collapsing already and the new measures, which include a 22 per cent cut in the minimum wage, will deepen their torment.

“Enough is enough,” said 89-year-old Manolis Glezos, one of Greece’s most famous left wingers. “They have no idea what an uprising by the Greek people means.”

Police said 14 injured protesters were taken to hospital and at least 50 were treated at the scene for breathing problems caused by the tear gas. At least eight police were also injured.

The EU and IMF say they have had enough of broken promises and that the funds will be released only with the clear commitment of Greek political leaders that they will implement the reforms, whoever wins an election that could be held in April.

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Engineer

Monday, February 13, 2012 at 01:35 PM

#2 It doesn't really matter what the Greek people do. Even were they to ditch every debt they have along with each agreement to the EUIMF etc, even if they reduced their debt at the stroke of a pen to zero right now they'd still be up the creek. They continue to spend far more as a nation than they can afford to - and it's that selfishness that the rioters are looking to maintain. Greeks cannot be allowed to line their own pockets at the expense of other European nations.

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A Friend of Fernando Poo

Monday, February 13, 2012 at 01:11 PM

To further the dreams of Eurocrats, the governments of five countries have been replaced with more compliant ones. The Greek economy is being crucified to save the banks of other countries from the results of the Eurocrats' foolishness. Now the Greek people are told that even if they vote for new politicians who will repudiate the debt and the whole Euro project, they will be bound to any deal made by the current, collaborating, politicians. There can't be any doubt left that the Eurocrats are willing to throw over democracy itself to try to rescue their project from a doom that was inherent from the start. It's an extremely dangerous play. If the people find that politicians can't be relied upon to rescue them, they'll turn to the generals. Rather than preventing war, the European project has turned full-circle and is leading to war.

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KINGFISHER1

Monday, February 13, 2012 at 12:49 PM

I am well aware of the importance and significance of the fires in and around Athens. The short answer is that the Political System is more bankrupt than the currency. Europe is at the modern Weimar, except it is currently called the EU. The IMF is also BUST. Not a £1 more should be put into the IMF by the UK. A modern day update on Bretton Woods, woud be appropriate, and this time NOT to make the mistakes of that Conference. Tidy up the financial system, with the emphasis on protecting the people, not the Financial Centres. Failure to do that, will not see Europe Burn, but it may snap the Atlantic Conveyor; which would more than freeze the Thames5!

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