Fiery Clashes Erupt in Greece Ahead of Debt Vote
- Posted on February 12, 2012 at 3:30pm by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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A gasoline bomb explodes near riot police during an anti-austerity demonstration in Athens' Syntagma (Constitution) Square February 12, 2012. (Image source: Reuters)
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Riots engulfed central Athens and at least 10 buildings went up in flames in mass protests late Sunday as lawmakers prepared for a historic parliamentary vote on harsh austerity measures demanded to keep the country solvent and within the eurozone.
TV footage showed a three-story corner building completely consumed by flames with riot officers looking on from the street, and firefighters trying to douse the blaze. A closed cinema, a bank, a mobile phone dealership, a glassware store and a cafeteria were among the burning buildings, the fire department said. There were no report of people trapped inside.
Reuters
Since May 2010, Greece has survived on a euro110 billion ($145 billion) bailout from its European partners and the International Monetary Fund. When that proved insufficient, a new rescue loan package worth a further euro130 billion ($171 billion) was decided – combined with a massive bond swap deal that will write off half the country’s privately held debt.
But for both deals to materialize, Greece has to persuade its deeply skeptical creditors that it has the will and ability to implement spending cuts and public sector reforms that will end years of fiscal profligacy and tame gaping budget deficits.
Protesters set bonfires in front of parliament and dozens of riot police formed lines to try to deter them from trying to make a run on parliament. Clouds of tear gas drifted across the square in front of parliament. Many in the crowd wore gas masks and had their faces covered, while others carried Greek flags and carried banners. Several protesters and police have been injured, while an unspecified number of suspected rioters were detained, authorities said.
Clashes erupted after more than 100,000 protesters marched to parliament to rally against drastic austerity cuts that will ax one in five civil service jobs and slash the minimum wage by more than a fifth.
Riot police fired dozens of tear gas volleys at rioting youths, who attacked them with firebombs, fireworks and chunks of marble smashed off the fronts of luxury hotels, banks and department stores. Streets were strewn with stones and rubble, while terrified passers-by sought refuge in hotel lounges and cafeterias.
Reuters
Prime Minister Lucas Papademos’ government – an unlikely coalition of the majority Socialists and their main foes, the conservative New Democracy – was expected to carry the vote, even by a narrow margin.
Combined, they control 236 of Parliament’s 300 seats, although at least 20 lawmakers from both main parties said they would not back the new private sector wage cuts, pension reductions and civil service layoffs dictated by the draft austerity program.
“There are very few such moments in the history of a nation,” Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said. “Our country has an acute issue of survival.”
“The question is not whether some salaries and pensions will be curtailed, but whether we will be able to pay even these reduced wages and pensions,” he added. “When you have to choose between bad and worse, you will pick what is bad to avoid what is worse.”
The new cutbacks, which follow two years of harsh income losses and tax hikes – amid a deep recession and record high unemployment – have been demanded by Greece’s bailout creditors in return for a new batch of vital rescue loans.
“By Wednesday, finance ministers from eurozone countries must finally approve the financing and support program for Greece,” Venizelos said. “If that does not happen, and it is not at all certain that it will happen unless we raise to the occasion, then we will not be able by Friday, Feb. 17, to officially start the bond exchange process.”
“We won’t be in time to carry out the bond swap by March 5, and we won’t be in time to address the problem of major bond issues that must be paid from March 14-20,” he said. “If that doesn’t happen, the country will go bankrupt.”
Reuters
The parliamentary debate started shortly after 3:30 p.m. (1330 GMT; 8:30 a.m. EST), and will take about 10 hours, finishing around midnight.
“By midnight today, before markets open, parliament must send the message that our nation is both willing and able,” Venizelos aid. “Unfortunately, the markets have subjugated states.”
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was quoted as telling the Welt am Sonntag newspaper Sunday that Greece “cannot be a bottomless pit.”
“That’s why the Greeks must finally put a bottom in,” he added. “Then we can put something in too.”
Highlighting previous promises he said weren’t kept, Schaeuble said “that is why Greece‘s promises aren’t enough for us any more,” according to the report.
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 broadcast 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,” he said.
“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.
Roesler acknowledged that Greece faces “difficult decisions” but stressed that Germany wants it to be able to get out of trouble.
“It is not enough just to give financial aid – they must tackle the second cause of the crisis, the lack of economic competitiveness,” he said. “For that, they need … massive structural reforms. Otherwise Greece will not get out of the crisis.”
Introducing the legislation Sunday, Socialist lawmaker Sofia Yiannaka said the intense pressure from Greece’s EU partners to pass the measures was the result of delays in implementing already agreed reforms.
“The delays have our imprint. We should not blame foreigners for them,” she said.
“We have finally found out that you have to pay back what you have borrowed … We used to say ‘poor state, but rich citizens’ because we tolerated tax evasion for populist reasons. Is this the country we want?” Yiannaka added.
Leftist parties and the small rightist LAOS – a former junior coalition partner – have vowed to vote against the new austerity.
“You are not trying to save Greece, but a handful of industrialists,” Communist Party spokesman Thanassis Pafilis said. “And you disgracefully blame the struggling people who created the wealth we have. You are trying to send them back to the Middle Ages. We will not allow it.”
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Comments (113)
TheObamanation
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 5:00pmPutting people in jail for tax offenses ? You hear that Warren Buffet ?
Report Post »suzy000
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 5:30pmYou go to jail here….there are a lot of people in jail by the invite of the IRS. Wasn’t Al Capone in jail for a tax offense?
Report Post »abbygirl1994
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:50pmHim and a bunch of Hollywood Stars who think they are above paying taxes!
Report Post »TheCoffinMaker
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:11pmEven I’m not laughing about this one. Because it’s going to find a way to your town soon.
Our nation’s credit rating will drop mucho further.
No sane person will buy our debt. Just worthless junk.
The minimum wage will drop to the level of a Chinese laborer, and you’ll beg to work for that.
Look at the stores closing around you. Notice how many homes are for sale.
Lights out.
Report Post »Unix
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:31pmAnd to think we are in a much worse situation than Greece, simple difference is we can still digitze our currency, to make it all that much worthless. Soon my firends this will be the story on our streets, if you’re not prepapred already I pity you. The situation is hopeless and for all those who have their collective heads up their azzes, I pity you all the more. So to all of those who agree with Obama and those who think things will get better, just stick your heads back in the sand, it will be painful for only a few seconds.
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:33pmWhen the cities are declared too dangerous for their “residents” to be able to get out and vote, due to the riots which will be “scheduled”, the election will be judged unfair and therefore not valid. Obama will work hard to find a solution to this, just be patient with him. (while he remains in office) He only has your best interests in mind and you can’t do anything without him anyway. Funny thing is that the very people who will claim this we see their neighbors causing the riots. Just a guess…….
Report Post »Unix
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:24pmWhere are all the liberal communist trolls? jzs? encino? 13th? all of you pukes that thing obama is so great, where are you? peckerwoods…
Report Post »Jinglebob
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:53pm“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things; the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing is worth a war, is worse. A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”
- John Stuart Mill
Report Post »000degrees
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 6:42amJB I have that quote on my desk. It says everything…….
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 8:56amjeez the greeks are nuts. see what happens when you use other people’s money and they cut you off. time for the greeks to go to work and produce something other than more socialist welfare cases.
Report Post »cloudsofwar
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:44pmcoming to a city near us. ows mobs. then our election. will you be afraid to go out and vote? obama hopes so. we must vote to remove BO from office, any republican nominee will do. vote all republican in 2012.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 5:14pmThat will not happen. If the big citues dont get out and vote, Obama loses. He needs the big cities to vote because the rural part of the USA hates him.
The rots will come with the cutting off of welfare or if we run out of money and cant pay the welfare state. He would not do that because he needs them to vote for thier handouts.
The big cities will burn. It will happen after Obama is out of office and the Republicans can be blamed.
Report Post »AmericanFightingMan1
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 5:22pmNo. No more political parties. When will you get it?? Both parties are messed up. R’s are slightly better, but they still inject us with the same poison. D’s are rabid socialists, as most of us have by now concluded.
Vote for a person, for whatever office, who is not aligned with a political party. Independents. It will take time, but it can be done. Bust the parties. Bring them down.
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:31pmIt’s going to bad…real bad, when that happens in the US. We have guns. anybody on the streets are subject to being shot down. either by the law or by other angry welfare mooches who aren’t getting their monthly government teat to suck on. I wonder where they get the money to buy guns and ammo? Nomatter…I’m sure they dont have the type of guns or nearly as much ammo as many of us.
Report Post »BTW…groceries stores will be empty the first day, and burned to the ground the second. Better stock up. As soon as China pulls the rug out from under us is the day the madness begins.
Unix
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:27pmIt si all over for us anyway, time is the only factor. Anarchy will rule and survival of the fittest will reign. We are bankrupt and no amount of taxation or austerrity will fix it…we have done this to ourselves…and let me thank all of our corrupt politicians for this, you make me want to puke, every stinking one of you. F OFF…and of course our dumbed down citzenry, who could give a rip, F you too!
Report Post »SFsuper49er
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:07pmAs soon as they cut entitlements here and Obama knows it…
Report Post »jcldwl
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 8:05amPerhaps we should rally a massive absentee vote so we can still vote without having to worry about violence at the poles. That might throw them a little off balance.
Report Post »408 CheyTac
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:44pmTelling a bunch of people that have been living off the dole that it’s over, and time to go get a real job…
Ya, let me know how that works out for them.
Report Post »anev
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:57pmCause its easier to spread stereotypes and ignorance that seeing what really is happening
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 5:02pmI’m more concerned about how it will work out for US when it starts here.
Report Post »Lord_Frostwind
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:19pmFunny thing about stereotypes Anev, people are more than happy to fulfill them every day. I was born in the Rust Belt, I saw the “Welfare Babies” that everyone decries as being unrealistic. They are very much a reality, they can found anywhere in the US. The record we saw in Ohio was four generations sequentially, and from what I saw in school, probably five now.
I can tell you one other thing, you want to get them off their duffs to do something, tell them the gravy train has left the station. Granted, you might want to have your exit planned before hand, it might get ugly.
Report Post »Ohevi
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:42pmBuckle up, it’s gonna get bumpy! Keep that ammo dry! Prep prep prep
Report Post »momrules
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:39pmDon‘t ya’ll feel it? It’s here, the numbness, the fear, the rage are all here in America just waiting for the right spark to set the fire.
Every time I start to think that MAYBE if Obama gets voted out of office things might change I get brought up short with the realization that we’ve gone too far.
There are already too many people here that have lost jobs, lost houses and are losing hope. Too many others on the government dole wanting more and more……….I worry.
If you are not prepared please start now if you can. And pray.
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:55pmMOM-
Report Post »I feel exactly the same way.
If the Muslims can pray 5 times a day—I figured I would do 10 prayers a day.
Something is off in America—-a feeling of uneasy
May God Bless this great land of ours!!!!
jlcook
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:05pmI think we’re screwed wether he stays or leaves. We are to far gone, and they will cry racism if he’s voted out, then race riots which been getting heavy fuel for 3 years now, are ready to ignite. Stay away from the cities folks.
Report Post »living1nBF3
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:38pmWhen the money runs out, where do you go to get more? Crickets chirping….
Report Post »Marengo Ohio Patriot
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 5:04pmjust give uncle ‘bama’ a call. he’ll call up his bro, johnny fed. all is well.
Report Post »now go back to your t.v. program!
anev
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:34pmRiot policemen spraying tear gas -at fainting levels- and throwing rocks at you. Then getting back home and listen to media calling you “terrorising hooded youth”
Report Post »Twobyfour
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:23pmWell, breaking things, starting fires, and so on… how would you call it? Artistic expression?
The protesters don’t like the austerity program. They were pretending to be working and government was paying them, for several decades. Now money ran out and the entitled populace is unhappy.
How did they think the socialist experiment would end?
Report Post »miser9
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:27pmSpring is just around the corner. I have a feeling we are going to be in for a wild ride this year.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:22pmComing ot America courtesy of Soros and Obama.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:34pmAnd Unions… And Socialists… And Caliphatists… And Teachers & Professors… And Students…
Report Post »KickinBack
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:20pm21st century version of Greek Fire.
Report Post »Scare_Libs
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:15pmIts like teaching a pig to fly. They are not going to curb their hunger. They never paid any taxes, lived on the highest wages, and retired early. Now they have to change?? Oh crap, the same thing is being mirrored here in the US. Hey USA, watch what is happening in Greece, it might be your future headlines.
Report Post »portague
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:54pmits not a tax problem it is purely a spending problem. The elected promised way to much.
we spent 3.8 trillion dollars and around 2.4 trillion dollars of that is the entiltlement stuff ss/medicare&medicaid/foodstamps/unemployment insurance etc. and none of if is politacly touchable and uncutable. we collected in total about 2.2 trillion dollars in taxes and thats all taxes combined and thats not enough for the entitlements alone
. So even we cut absolutly everything else in the government to 0 like get rid of the military, all government owned things, and fired all other government agencies etc we could not afford entitlements and would still run a deficit.
Report Post »balrog25
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:13pmGather supplies, read up on skills, and buy a gun. Sorry, had this wrong…Buy a gun, buy another gun, buy one more gun, and then do the other things. Fortune favors the prepared. God save us.
Report Post »paleoman
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:16pmA good iron comes in handy too.
Report Post »Wolf
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:41pmLOL, Paleo- yup, a good shootin’ iron is a joy to hold! Even more fun to shoot accurately.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 5:04pmJust remember… when it comes to it… Defenders never Win… or as Patton said: Always Attack!
Report Post »Captain Crunch
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:44pm@paleoman
Yep, irons work too. I see you read.
Report Post »NEMATIC
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:49pmDon’t forget, lots of ammo.
Report Post »paleoman
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:13pm2012 they will becoming this summer or late fall, but they will becoming. The pot is being stirred everyday by ows, unions, progressive liberials, democrats & the likes of that. Evil from the top down it might split the country in half but they will not win. True hard working American on one side & a nanny state on the other side, wonder who will survive & prosper. The other the way of Rome.
Report Post »Netsurfer2
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:09pmA good reason of why we should do away with welfare, make them work for food stamps and make our society even more productive! Anything free is always taken for granted! Get out and work for it! Lazy is stupid and stupid is as stupid does! No body rides for free!
Report Post »ares338
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:08pmYou hear that unions? This could be us….is this what you want?
Report Post »kapnkd
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:32pmYour question must be rhetorical(?) …THIS is exactly what the unions (along with Obozocommie) are pushing for!!
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:08pmsocialism’s end game…Greece should default and leave the EU..ITS there only chance at freedom If they stay in the EU they will be living in communism…
Report Post »Archstone
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:07pmWhy is NO ONE talking about fried calamari?
Report Post »kentuckypatriot
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:59pmEnlighten me, what the hell does that have to do with the article?
Report Post »DD313
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 5:44pmA Greek delicacy which most of those folks will no longer be able to afford. Taste’s okay, but kinda chewy.
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:33pm.Why. is right. I like fried calamari…..
Report Post »KA-BAR
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:00pmComing to an ‘Occupy’ infested city near you!
Report Post »TheObamanation
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 3:57pmA sneak preview … coming to an American city this summer … Occupy Oakland
Report Post »GeorgieJo
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:37pmor the May 1st Occupy CHICAGO….
Sigh.
OMG in 2012
Report Post »Socialism_Is_The_New_Black
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 3:56pmLord of the Flies. The civilized world has had it too good for too long. The generations that realized it took hard work and you can’t have it all are old and dying off. There are too many ingrates among us who think they are entitled to just as much as those who worked hard and risked it all to become wealthy. I’m stating the obvious I guess,just thinking out loud. I‘m starting to think that those of you that are religious are right and this whole thing is going to fall apart soon when bandages can’t keep it together. I can no longer see this thing going any different than Glenn’s worst case scenario. Once the first domino falls, watch out!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:06pmIt is… the Cult of Suicide!
Report Post »the phathom
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 3:53pmDingbats brought it on themselves with their socialist policies that obama wants to put in place here in the United States. It’s like jumping off a cliff, and then getting angry, and wondering why you broke your leg, then blame someone else for your broken leg.
Report Post »Mikev5
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:19pmOH so true its like these people have a distorted view of life and how it works.
WHAT ITS NOT FREE? you promised you promised give it to me NOW or I will burn everything around me I WANT MY FREE MONEY.
Report Post »Mikev5
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:21pmThey already signed there life’s away they don’t know that yet?
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 3:49pmThis is what states that have turned into entitlement societies end up with – nothin
Mr. Barak Hussein Obama – are you paying attention!!!!
9 months and counting!!!!
Report Post »Crazy Times
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 3:41pmThe headline should read, “Hey Greece, how’s that stimulus working out for ya?”
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 3:46pmThis is… CHANGE that you can believe in — But they seen to be asking for NO CHANGE!
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 3:40pmWhy destroy Buildings & Vehicles that are PAID for… in protest that you OVER SPENT and are now BANKRUPT?
Would you not keep whatever that you HAVE… and BUILD upon that?
Just what is the MOB MENTALITY?
Report Post »anev
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:38pmguess the media doesn’t mention that those building are burned by undercover policemen as a disorientation tactic. Everyone prefers to watch flames than peaceful protests.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 4:53pmAnev-
Report Post »Of course they were, it couldn‘t have been the protester’s who were throwing gas bombs. must be undercover police. I guess all the rioters are under cover police. Stupid commies. They are un-working their way back to the stone age, I hope they remember how to hunt and gather food, for they certainly won’t be buying any.
The_Jerk
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 3:31pmWho cares about that small, baklava eating, nation? Stop bailing the losers out.
Report Post »NoNannyState4me
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 3:55pmAwww man, harsh. The birthplace of Democracy gets no social welfare? hehe
Report Post »