Greek Lawmakers Approve Austerity Measures as Riots Spread
- Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:47pm by
Christopher Santarelli
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(AP) Greek lawmakers on Monday approved harsh new austerity measures demanded by bailout creditors to save the debt-crippled nation from bankruptcy, after rioters in central Athens torched buildings, looted shops and clashed with riot police.
The historic vote paves the way for Greece’s European partners and the International Monetary Fund to release $170 billion (euro130 billion) in new rescue loans, without which Greece would default on its debt mountain next month and likely leave the eurozone – a scenario that would further roil global markets.
Sunday’s clashes erupted after more than 100,000 protesters marched to the parliament to rally against the drastic cuts, which will ax one in five civil service jobs and slash the minimum wage by more than a fifth.
At least 10 buildings were on fire, including a movie theater, bank and cafeteria, and looters smashed dozens of shops in the worst riot damage in years. Dozens of police officers and at least 37 protesters were injured, 23 suspected rioters were arrested and a further 25 detained.
As the vote got under way early Monday, Prime Minister Lucas Papademos urged calm, pointing to the country’s dire financial straits.
“Vandalism and destruction have no place in a democracy and will not be tolerated,” Papademos told Parliament. “I call on the public to show calm. At these crucial times, we do not have the luxury of this type of protest. I think everyone is aware of how serious the situation is.”
Since May 2010, Greece has survived on a $145 billion (euro110 billion) bailout from its European partners and the International Monetary Fund. When that proved insufficient, the new rescue package was approved. The deal, which has not yet been finalized, will be combined with a massive bond swap deal to 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 to implement spending cuts and public sector reforms that will end years of fiscal profligacy and tame gaping budget deficits.
As protests raged Sunday, demonstrators set bonfires in front of parliament and dozens of riot police formed lines to keep them from making a run on the building. Security forces fired dozens of tear gas volleys at rioters, who attacked them with firebombs and chunks of marble broken off the fronts of luxury hotels, banks and department stores.
Clouds of tear gas drifted across the square, and many in the crowd wore gas masks or had their faces covered, while others carried Greek flags and banners.
A three-story building was completely consumed by flames as firefighters struggled to douse the blaze. Streets were strewn with stones, smashed glass and burnt wreckage, while terrified passers-by sought refuge in hotel lounges and cafeterias.
“I’ve had it! I can’t take it any more. There’s no point in living in this country any more,” said a distraught shop owner walking through his smashed and looted optician store.
Athens Mayor Giorgos Kaminis said rioters tried to storm the City Hall building, but were repelled. “Once again, the city is being used as a lever to try to destabilize the country,” he said.
Conservative New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras said the rioting “hurts the entire country.”
“We are seeing scenes from a future that we must do our utmost to avert,” he said.
Papademos’ government – an unlikely coalition of the majority Socialists and their main foes, New Democracy – had been expected to carry the austerity vote, even if 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 private sector wage cuts, pension reductions and civil service layoffs dictated by the draft austerity program.
Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the measures were vital to the country’s very economic 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 said. “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 doesn’t happen, the country will go bankrupt.”
Greece’s eurozone partners, meanwhile, kept up the pressure for real reform.
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble was quoted as telling the Welt am Sonntag newspaper Sunday that Greece “cannot be a bottomless pit.”
Highlighting previous promises he said weren’t kept, Schaeuble said “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 Philip Roesler said “that is now in the hands of the Greeks alone.”
“It is not enough just to give financial aid – they must tackle the second cause of the crisis, the lack of economic competitiveness,” told said ARD television. “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.”
Leftist parties and the small rightist LAOS – a former junior coalition partner – had 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 (96)
robinakilt
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:55pmHEY WERE BROKE! So let’s destroy our stuff by breaking windows and burning buildings…cause we can rebuild it with all of our government union money….wait
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:59am“I’ve had it! I can’t take it any more. There’s no point in living in this country any more,” said a distraught shop owner walking through his smashed and looted optician store.
Looks like the myopic mob picked a fitting target.
Report Post »martinez012577
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 1:12amIts coming here soon no matter who we elect.
Depending on who we elect will decide how we come out of it. It will either be a new reformed United States rebuilt using the Constitution as a guild or a new Communist/Police state that has no use for a “outdated” created by a bunch of old racists.
Ron Paul 2012!!!
Report Post »TeaParty_RonPaul_R3VOLUTION
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 1:24amPerfect example of why Minimum Wage Laws are bad for the economy. Even the socialists in Greece are having to cut the minimum wage. But if you ever bring that up to a liberal they will attack you and say something like “AAAAh you are racist, sexist, you hate poor people derp derp”
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 8:15amOccupy has giant riots planned for May in Chicago.
Report Post »jespasinthru
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:53pmLast week a little bag of Lay’s Potato Chips out of the vending machine cost 1.00. Today it costs 1.25. Our money is losing value every day, and most people don’t even see it. Inflation is eating us alive. Four years ago you could go to the supermarket and get one hundred dollars worth of groceries, and it would feed you for a week. Today, one hundred dollars worth of groceries will feed you for two or three days. And what about gas prices? It’s up to four bucks a gallon, and nobody is
Report Post »complaining. Am I the only one who is seeing this?
AmericanFightingMan1
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:58pmNo, more and more will see it. More than half are still sleeping tho. Time to wake up honey. Your nightmare is here to see you!
Report Post »MCDAVE
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 10:29pmOBAMA’S ..Economic policies coming home to roost..Better buy seeds and learn to garden
Report Post »nzkiwi
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 12:59amLike all socialists, they have finally run out of other people’s money.
Report Post »4xeverything
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 3:35amThis is why stocking up is so important. Do it now while you can afford it! When things are too expensive you will have food enough for your family for weeks, months, or years to come.
Report Post »BSdetector
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 8:50amPrepare yourselves, this is what the Occutards are planning for the summer.
Report Post »Black Blart
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 3:23pmSome people see it and are laboring to mitigate the pain WE will have. But know that we are going to be like Greece. Complete with riots and other violence.
The next thing that will happen in Greece is that they will reorganize their government into a dictatorship (probably single party communism) and the riots will magically stop.
Report Post »freedom for sale
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 6:31pmJust go buy some coffee. The cheap stuff is up to 8.00
Report Post »thegodfather
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:50pmWow…Just like Wisconsin. Wisconsin goes broke, governor announces cut backs to save the state….liberals riot and take over capitol building.
Report Post »pamela kay
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 1:09amTHEGODFATHER, Ditto!
Report Post »Squ33
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 10:16amAnd how do unions and communists envoke an idea of peaceful resolutions to labor disputes…?
Report Post »Exrepublisheep
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:11pmSuck up to the rich, hate the poor. TADA! Riots! Let them eat cake…
Report Post »robinakilt
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 10:02pmLove the hard working rich, hard working middle class and the hard working poor… It is those lazy, greedy, system working ones in all of those groups I HATE! Hey go to the streets with OWS as they prepare so do we….good luck
Report Post »TexBork
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:49pmWitness “Occupy” even though they complain that the police interfere with their riots. The Occupiers are supported by Democrats, Socialists, Communists, and Nazis and they will be bringing this to the US. The Tea Partiers were painted as acting like Occupiers, by the radical left media, but that was as always, a lie. Anyone who continues to support the democrat party and unions are supporting this behavior and will be bringing it here with their support and union dues. The radical leftists are coming full court press and delivering hate and violence to the world to meet their self-centered, sicko, selfish demands and will see out and kill, hurt, or maim, anyone who will not pay for their existence for them.
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:07pmIf you follow occupy wall street. org, the live stream and chat, The occupy has same riots planned, and discussed daily for Chicago the first week of may. I am not kidding, the unions are paying these people to burn the city down.
Report Post »mr molotov cocktail
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:57pmishka4me thats the not the plan burning things down its shutting down the economy
Report Post »if there is not enough jobs for all- then no one gets jobs~ people will not let-the i have a job
people tell the without them they are lazy good for nothing parasites while they sit there with the jobs~
they are planning massive general strikes which will disrupt all business ….
what is coming to america is completely rational and completely normal to nature
its going to be the serfs against the middle-class as the rich want…. but then the middle-class will turn on the elites this time mark my words
AmericanFightingMan1
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 10:05pmThe difference is that when violence escalates here in US, it will be intense. Americans are more familiar with weapons. The police have been fighting in inner cities for years and the cops who are left are tough. Inner city thugs are hard to deal with when the cops have been hamstrung by the ACLU and liberal judges.
Once it starts, these same cops who have been tied up for years will get some vegance. The OWS folks are a mixture of so many different factions. Some are actually against the corporate welfare state that is as un-American as the commie-socialists in the government regime.
It is the other anarchists and privileged punks who want to riot because their lazy lifestyle isn’t paying off like they thought who need to get some serious azz-kicking going. The academic types who ooze arrogance need some serious body blows, and it looks like they might get it this year.
Of course, the decent Americans are caught in the middle between a state that could go totalitarian on their azz and a seething mass of no-good inner city thugs who are ready to take out their rage on anything pale. Going to be rough.
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 11:20pmOccupy Occupy Wall St is coming also.
Report Post »ThomasUSA
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:36pmWho knows.. maybe all those “entitled” people will suddenly see the error of their ways, and just say.. “you’re right.. we need to cut our lifestyle down to 25% of what it use to be until we pay off all our debts”… and everything will be peachy keen! I KNOW that is how it will be in this country!
Report Post »Magyar
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:29pmWe are all in big trouble. We have taken all suggested precautions by Glenn et al….but I STILL don’t feel very comfortable! The only way that we can change a damn thing is to unite…but too many already depend on what Uncle Obumler gives them…. I fear there’ll be a second civil war….
Report Post »AmericanFightingMan1
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 10:11pmPoint well taken. I too have gotten ready, but I know it is not enough. And to coordinate with neighbors, most are still asleep. If TSHTF soon, it will be chaotic as a new order emerges. Local leaders can be good or bad. Resource will be tight all around, but even tighter in areas with little water or little locally grown food.
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:16pmToo many people in positions of power, that either do not understand the ramifications or stand to gain, enacting detrimental policies
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:16pmParty line vote, people will continue to protest. April elections.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:15pmI do not whom that I am the most sorry… them, because the Idiots throw temper tantrums when they cannot get what they want… or us, because we funding the IMF and our Idiots will do the same!
Report Post »JP4JOY
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 10:40pmWhere did you learn to write? Is English your native language?
Report Post »vtxphantom
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:57pmCould never understand why people would burn down businesses. If they are going to burn something down, burn the government houses, IRS, city hall. Don’t burn down houses and businesses. Go for the government that is creating the problem for you.
Report Post »onthefrontline
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:56pmThe OWS should be Camped Out on the White House lawn..
Report Post »Black Blart
Posted on February 13, 2012 at 3:28pmThey burn down businesses because they know that they will not be hunted down and jailed (or worse) as a result.
Report Post »c.foster4722
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:40pmThis is what America will look like if we don’t get rid of Oblamer, and crack down on the unions!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:51pmThis is what America is going to look like no matter who is President, unless you can figure out some way to make them account for 3 plus trillion missing dollars, and find some way to pay back 16 plus trillion in debt, and cut people off welfare, all at the same time. And while all this is going on in America, what do you think the Hezbollah in Mexico is going to be doing, not to mention all them who have come into America? Furthermore, the rest of Europe is going to begin to topple in financial chaos that will fall on the shoulders of American banks which will make us topple more. Whoever is President has nothing to do with it now.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:54pmAnd if that isn’t enough to keep you worrying, then you probably don’t want to think about the Twelvers in Iran and scattered abroad who want to bring about Armageddon, or the coming ice age, and the possibility of an asteroid slamming into earth in the next 10 years, or a massive solar burst.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:59pmAnd you probably don’t want to think about plagues either, for example the fact that a school in Colorado just tested positive for 40% of the students having TB.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:07pmBut with every one of these possibilities coming to pass, heck why be concerned? Just go do mindless things that people normally do such as mindless sports and killing the spirit of your children by making them think “Living” and “success” depends on how much money they make and the kind of car they drive.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:20pmOh here it is. Someone once told me to post the things I speak. Of course I’m trying to figure out how 40% test positive for something not contagious.
Report Post »http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_19929024
Itsjusttim
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:28pmMaybe it’s just me, but you might want to start studying the Bible. Here I will start you off: Moses wasn’t in human form.
Report Post »randy
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:49pmThe Muslims, Illegal Mexicans, Blacks and Commie Progressives in the US are just waiting for Obama to give the go ahead.
Report Post »Itsjusttim
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 8:53pmrandy,
Report Post »Yeah I know.
Itsjusttim
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:02pmAnyways as far as the Bible goes, I will give people a little more insight, take it or leave it. The Field is the planet, and also the earth. The earth is also your awareness of existing. The dry-ground is realizing the existence of a Lord, and that we are here as servants. The Face of the deep is the regions of the mind which seem out of reach to people. The Face of the earth is you and the planet. Women are all people. A wife is the people who are married to “Man.” The Bible is a constant transition between the spirit realm and the human realm ie. as in when it says Isaac was Eastward at the time. And the Bible is made up of many books, and the warning at the end of Revelation was only referring to the Book of Revelation. Nakedness means the nakedness of the soul, and that‘s why David’s wife rolled her eyes when David rent his clothes to dance naked for God. And, there is a God.
Report Post »copatriots
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:31pmAthens, Communist Party spokesman Thanassis Pafilis, Entitlements
Rome, Nero, Fiddling
America, Obama, Golfing
Report Post »13th Imam
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:55pmAlso Nero committed suicide at 30 when the senate and citizens finally had enough golfing,,.. i mean fiddling
Report Post »RayOne
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:23pmCA should consider publishing the austerity measures it will impose before it asks for a bailout.
Report Post »barber2
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:21pmThe Communist Party sounds like our Democrats : stirring up the anti-rich rhetoric. Doing that anarchist “revolution” thingy. And am sure their international Communist buddies are involved in our Occupies who have expressed their contempt for “capitalism.” Remember Jessica in San Francisco ? Read that our Occupies plan a big strike day for February 29 AND a big national strike day for May 1 which is the official big Communist Workers holiday. WAKE UP. Our Democrats ? Now our Communists? Guess those Marxist mentors made a big impression on young Barack Obama…
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:33pmObama is not Leading them… he is their Front Man!
Report Post »Popp40
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:05pmAnd when this comes to America, Obama will be able to declare a National State of Emergency….aka…Marshall Law! And those of you who paid attention in civics class knows that means our Constitution is then null and void.
Report Post »Countrygirl1362
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:15pmI would say it will come before the next election, so there will be no election and Obama will declare himself dictator.
Report Post »hidden_lion
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:25pmonly for the fools who live in cities and major population centers. It will be too difficult to control the outlying areas, I am sure they will set up their check points around the city and trap anybody foolish enough to enter. Good luck to any patriots caught in the area of effect, try and avoid being herded into large, centralized refugee shelters.
Report Post »Hardcore_Conservative
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:28pmIf you ask obama our constitution is already null and void. I think i might even agree with him we have let things get to far already I dont think it can be turned around just by voteing in a better president. The states have unconstitunial laws that people vote for or allow becuase they are not affected or just dont care. Examples (or my oppinions just to name a few) No smokeing in resturants motels or other buildings as by set state or city laws. I dont smoke and I think people that do are stupid to do so but I am not going to try and stop them from doing it. If I own a resturant a bar or motel or anything it should be my decision if smokeing is allowed in my buissnes. If people did not give me buisness then i would cater to the demands of the customers to stay in buissnes either way there should not be a law telling me if someone can smoke in my buildings. Seat belt laws they are just nothing more than a way for the states to take money from people. I have gone to court on these tickets and there excuse is that it saves the state from paying for people that dont have the money to pay there own medical bills which i see as a joke. Save the state money by not letting people on welfare drink or smoke and if they say they do deny them the free money that they should not be getting.
Report Post »iwojo
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:08pmAmerica has been operating under Marshall Law since Abe was Prez
Report Post »thegreatcarnac
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:01pmCommunists are active in this debacle and they are active in our troubles here in America. Our own president is a communist sympathizer and a leftist himself. Just because Communist Russia acts as if she has fallen does not mean communism has given up.
Report Post »hi
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:01pmThey are so stupid. They do not get it. They are just like the democrats and Rinos like Romney here. Wake up!!
Report Post »jhaydeng
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:37pmPretty much sums it up!
Report Post »progressiveslayer
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:00pmWhen the gravy train stops is when the SHTF and it’ll be some time this year I suspect,ammo check.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:01pmBefore the elections is when I expect them to hit here; as arranged by Obama and Soros. Watch for signs of Soros making a mega killing on Greeces collapse; it will be up his alley.
Report Post »G man
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:02pmIt will build toward the conventions…then we party.
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:57pmIt’s already here! But they call themselves Occupiers. It’s going to get worse before it gets better, because we don’t have anyone in government that wants to upset the apple cart in Washington. But hopefully we will correct this crap come November.
Report Post »G man
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:57pmZeus will not this this stand.
Report Post »G man
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:59pmThis is Charlotte NC and Tampa Florida is a few months.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 9:42pmG MAN wrong…..I live in Tampa, if anyone starts toss Molotov cocktails they will be shoot.People here wont put up with this crap……..
Report Post »ddg7
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:56pmThey should burn down the people who got them into this mess.
Report Post »G man
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:55pmFantastic
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:52pmHow long before it gets here? I am guessing March. I am locked, stocked and loaded…
Report Post »Razorhunters
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:23pmWas thinking may/june when gets bad in the states…
banks, food , fuel , etc collaspe and skyrocket.
been ready for many years…
The gate on Freedom is almost closed.
Report Post »Outlaw_Josey_Wales
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 7:31pmGeorge Soros knows when the roits will start in the United State.
Report Post »Sirfoldallot
Posted on February 12, 2012 at 6:52pmComming here very soon.
Report Post »