Greek Parliament Votes Austerity Package, Heavy Protests in the Streets of Athens
Protests in Athens
Greek Parliament passed on Wednesday a package of austerity measures requested by the international lenders, in a move that should allow Greece to access other loans in the international markets.
The vote was cast against the background of very violent confrontations in the streets of Athens between the riot police and the protestors, who threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at the police, which, in turn, replied with round after round of tear gas.
The situation became even more explosive as the result of the vote was announced. People threw stones and chanted, set small fires, protesting this way the votes were cast, while police on motorcycles patrolled on pairs.
The clashes in these two days of confrontation with the police left 21 people injured, both police and civilians.
People in Greece have been on strike since Tuesday, and the strike continued on Wednesday, whereas those who back the idea of austerity packages explained that they were the only way out for the country, for the stability of the economy, the euro and the global financial system.
Greece has debt payments due in mid-July, and it asked for a bailout in order to be able to pay.
The major lenders, International Monetary Fund and the European Union, imposed a five-year austerity package as a precondition to accessing the $17 billion needed by the Greek economy.
Newly appointed IMF managing director Christine Lagarde urged the Greek opposition to set aside political disputes and contribute to the passing in parliament of the austerity package.
Protests in Athens
Greece has been assigned $156 billion last year for the stability of economy, and the $17 billion are the last part of the loan.
Olli Rehn, European Commissioner, and EU negotiator with Greece, said that there was no plan B to the situation in Greece, and that these measures should benefit the people in the long run.
