World

Greek Protesters are Rioting Again in the Streets of Athens

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Riot police fired tear gas at youths hurling rocks near the Greek finance ministry Tuesday, trying to quell the anger unleashed by a general strike as parliament debated new cost-cutting measures.

The latest austerity measures must pass in two parliamentary votes Wednesday and Thursday if Greece is to receive bailout funds from the EU and the IMF that will keep it from becoming the first eurozone nation to default on its debts.

The clashes with police came at the start of a two-day general strike called by unions furious that the government’s new euro28 billion ($40 billion) austerity program will slap taxes on minimum wage earners and other struggling Greeks. The measures come on top of other spending cuts and tax hikes that have sent the Greek unemployment rate soaring to over 16 percent.

Hooded youths ripped up paving stones and set trash bins on fire in central Athens as police gave chase and fired tear gas and stun grenades. Earlier, about 20,000 people had marched peacefully in two separate demonstrations, while another 7,000 protested in the northern city of Thessaloniki without incident.

Everyone from doctors and ambulance drivers to casino workers and even actors at a state-funded theater were joining the strike or holding work stoppages for several hours.

Greek Protesters are Rioting Again in the Streets of Athens

Hundreds of flights were canceled or rescheduled as air traffic controllers walked off the job for four hours in the morning – and were holding another walkout in the evening. Strikes by public transport workers snarled traffic across the capital, while other protesters blockaded the port of Piraeus.

“The situation that the workers are undergoing is tragic and we are near poverty levels,” said Spyros Linardopoulos, a protester with the PAME union at the Piraeus blockade. “The government has declared war and to this war we will answer back with war.”

Lawmakers began debating the latest austerity measures Monday and were continuing Tuesday. The package and an additional implementation law must be passed so the European Union and the International Monetary Fund release the next installment of Greece’s euro110 billion ($156 billion) bailout loan.

Without that euro12 billion ($17 billion) installment, Greece faces the prospect of a default next month – a potentially disastrous event that could drag down European banks, hurt other financially troubled European countries and even shock the whole global financial system.

Greek Protesters are Rioting Again in the Streets of Athens

But even lawmakers from the governing Socialists have been upset over the latest measures demanded by international creditors, and Prime Minister George Papandreou has struggled to contain an internal party revolt. He reshuffled his cabinet earlier this month to try to ensure his party’s support for this vote, but the Socialists still only have a 5-seat majority in the 300-member Parliament.

Papandreou urged lawmakers Monday to fulfill a “patriotic duty” by voting in favor of the new measures, but two of his own lawmakers have suggested they won’t.

European officials have also been pressuring Greece’s the main conservative opposition party to back the austerity bill.

“Both the future of the country and financial stability in Europe are at stake,” European Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said. “I fully respect the prerogatives and the sovereignty of the Greek Parliament in the ongoing debate. And I trust that the Greek political leaders are fully aware of the responsibility that lies on their shoulders to avoid default.”

But conservative party leader Antonis Samaras has refused, arguing that while he backs some austerity measures, the overall thinking behind the package is flawed.

Greece remains frozen out of bond markets and is surviving on the euro110 billion ($156 billion) in promised bailout loans. But the initial plan had assumed that Greece would be able to return to the markets next year.

That won’t happen, and a result Athens is negotiating for a second bailout, which Papandreou has said will be roughly the same size as the first.

Papandreou said he hoped the terms would be better than those for the first bailout.

“I call on Europe, for its part, to give Greece the time and the terms it needs to really pay off its debt, without strangling growth, and without strangling its citizens,” he said.

Papandreou’s new finance minister, Evangelos Venizelos, said the government acknowledged the new cuts were “unfair” and that he hoped negotiations over a second bailout would be concluded by the end of the summer.

“These measures will take us from running budget deficits to achieving primary surpluses,” he said. “It’s a difficult but necessary step.”

But many Greeks insist they should not be forced to pay for a crisis they believe the politicians are responsible for.

“We don’t owe any money, it’s the others who stole it,” said 69-year-old demonstrator Antonis Vrahas. “We’re resisting for a better society for the sake of our children and grandchildren.”

Even with the new austerity measures, many investors still believe that Greece is heading for some sort of default because its overall debt burden is too great.

—

Demetris Nellas in Athens contributed.

Comments (97)

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  • This_Individual
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 11:32am

    Interesting times we live in. Each and every one of us must be active in our communities to counteract the comming insurrection.

    Vote Libertarian.

    Report Post »  
  • upstateny
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 11:08am

    So again Socialism does not work, but people just don’t get it. This is why in the animal kingdom some young are not fed. This just screams of people who should have been turned away from the dinner table a very long time ago.

    Report Post »  
  • Viking64
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:50am

    Coming soon to a city near you! Can the USA or the world really stand anymore secular progressive behavior?. Get ready people! This total chaos is coming to America and it may be coming quickly,

    Report Post »  
  • jujubeebee
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:43am

    They are reacting likfe spoiled children to having something taken away …entitlements they feel they have a right to and deserve. Children don’t respond to reason………tough love maybe how this ends up. Yes, this is where we are headed unless the people see it realistically. Obama telling some of our children that he take solve it by taxing the rich is and avoiding to make a budget or make cuts is going to bring this to our doorstep. How does one reason with a liberal? Please clue me in to that!
    Liberals are like a cult who only believe in what they want to believe in and do not reason with logic, facts, statistics and what works. The spoiled children of Greece would rather burn down something that cannot be built back up with money they don’t have to throw their little tantrums.

    At the point of bankruptcy it doesn’t matter who put what on the charge. You need to address the problem.

    Report Post »  
  • keepthechange
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:39am

    what a joke!!!!!!!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • SychinLegacy
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:37am

    This is what democracy looks like?

    Report Post » SychinLegacy  
    • pennswoods
      Posted on June 29, 2011 at 9:01am

      Yes. This is what “democracy” looks like today in the home of democracy. But in reality this is what socialism, the welfare state mentality, and the death of the work ethic looks like in the modern European Union.

      Report Post »  
  • frustratedwithgovt
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:31am

    This is what you get when force a population to be dependent on the government instead of being self reliant.

    Report Post » frustratedwithgovt  
  • nostromo
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:27am

    Lots of anarchists and communists in the streets. The “we dont owe anybody money” cry is similar to the “we are not broke, we have the money” cries that we heard in the US a couple months ago. Fortunately, Americans arent as dumb as the Greeks and that campaign failed in the US. This is an international movement using idiots and fools to topple the capitalist economic system.

    Report Post »  
  • RED-DAWN
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:16am

    At the point these young lads have to use their energy to hoe a garden (by hand), they will be too tired to do this type crap.

    May not be such a bad thing! My grandfather taught me it was better to go to bed tired, rather than bored. These people are just bored….

    Report Post »  
  • NOBALONEY
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:07am

    The EU is planning to give Greece the money whether they vote for austerity or not! Nothing will get solved, and it looks like all the dominoes will fall, but at a later date. This EU plan is economic suicide!

    Report Post » NOBALONEY  
  • SJJB
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:53am

    Greece today, America tomorrow. This is what socialism does to a Country and the same socialism that the democrat party is intent on bringing to America will do the same to ours.

    Report Post »  
  • cntrlfrk
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:53am

    These clowns have a golden chance to change the future of their country.

    They should be applauding the “austerity measures” and demanding more instead of begging in the streets and throwing fits like the children they are.

    .

    Report Post » cntrlfrk  
  • BlackCrow
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:48am

    Coming soon to a city near you.

    Gold? Ammunition!!!!

    Report Post » BlackCrow  
  • jnobfan
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:44am

    Democracy will only survive until the population votes its self all of the money.
    What happens when you run out of other peoples money?
    We need a balenced budget ammendment before its too late.
    I;m still not convinced Boehner is not full of it but he is at least putting on a good front

    Report Post »  
  • nomercy63
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:43am

    I am glad to see all these people working so hard together for the betterment of their nation! Do you really think rioting will solve anything regardless which side you are on??? it’s kind of like the blacks burning their own neighborhoods down in America you think hitting yourself on the head with a hammer helps, just shows how stupid they are!

    Report Post »  
  • EmilyR
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:43am

    I just read a great article on this issue. They pose the question, who are they rioting against? Aren’t they a socialist nation? Are they rioting to obtain more of the capitalist system generated dollars? You know – that money generated by hard work and sacrifice to earn more to improve your living standard. Socialists only survive sucking off of capitalism. Doesn’t that make them hypocrites?

    http://pajamasmedia.com/victordavishanson/

    I question his statement about drilling oil and bringing down prices in the beginning of the article but other than that, he nails it.

    Report Post »  
    • upstateny
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 11:11am

      This is how the term of everything will be fine until they run out of other peoples money comes from.

      Report Post »  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:35pm

      Drilling oil in our own country would bring down prices at the pump. Not that hard to understand.

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
  • Booya9285
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:37am

    I am going to take 2 days off, (and probably get paid to do so) and bust up the nation. Which someone is going to have to pay for(all of us who don‘t pay taxes anyway cause it isn’t part of my make up). Then be all duded up with gas masks & back packs loaded up with all sorts of nasty stuff to break things and burn things, that don’t belong to me but those evil businesses and gov thug police types should just get out of the way so the power of the people can speak. So give us a pay raise! NOW!

    Report Post » Booya9285  
    • SgtB
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:33am

      Makes sense to me. The economy is falling and there aren’t any jobs for my college educated a$$ so I’ll go smash windows to create jobs, only problem is that most of Europe is too educated to perform manual labor and wouldn’t be able to do any of the repair work that they are creating. Of course, there is the whole problem that destroying things only creates demand and doesn’t improve wealth because you are only replacing the things lost instead of acquiring new property. Stupid Europeans.

      Report Post » SgtB  
  • Popp40
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:29am

    Really do the people of Greece not understand that they are broke…oh wait our own government doesn’t even know we are broke….Can someone please tell me when the grown up will start leading the world instead of the idiots?

    Report Post »  
  • Rickfromillinois
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:21am

    One other point, those rocks that the protesters could very easily kill someone and should be considered deadly weapons. Once rioters start throwing rocks then it is time to put away the tear gas and break out the guns.

    Report Post » Rickfromillinois  
  • Southernguy
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:20am

    Let the fools burn it down. Now where y’all gonna sleep? hmmmmmmmmm?

    Report Post » Southernguy  
    • Hiswill
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:11pm

      These people are idiots. They riot and burn down their towns, cities and disrupt businesses. Now they need money to rebuild and replace what they have destroyed. The tax revenue is cut because businesses are destroyed. Talk about shooting themselves in the foot.

      Report Post » Hiswill  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:17am

    Pathetic, Greece has free elections and the voters have voted for decades for the policies that have put them in this position. Now they riot, do they know they are rioting against themselves? Come on America, we can avoid this with some adult decision making but, the time is growing short. A vote to put Obama in charge for another 4 years is a vote for what Greece is going through now.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • NJTMATO
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:23am

      Yes…we have done it to ourselves! Too man complacent Americans not paying attention to anything. Voting only because it’s the “thing to do” whether you know anything about the person or not, someone told them how to vote. What‘s happening in Greece is on it’s way here, those of us who KNOW need to get out a megaphone and let our neighbors know….I’m prepared….are you?

      Report Post » NJTMATO  
    • let us prey
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:31am

      Gonzo
      Let us hope that the kooks decide to wake it up and get rid of this administration. If they use enough fraud, and there are millions more people like those in the flotilla video, we are in trouble. I think what we see in Greece is not going to compare to the madness that will happen here.

      Report Post » let us prey  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:35am

      I’m trying NJTMATO, I’m trying. The thing is, my state has and will vote the right way to stop this madness. I can‘t do much about these other states and I’m preaching to the choir where I live. All I can do in other states is give money to orgaizations that will spread the word in other states…and things are tight. Say what you want about Carl Rove but, his Crossroads GPS is putting out some good ads. $20 here and there may go a long way.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
  • Rickfromillinois
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:14am

    If you want to see the possible future of the United States look at Greece.

    Report Post » Rickfromillinois  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:10am

    .
    No different than whats gonna happen here when they take away the welfare. The uneducated masses will run out in the street and BURN THEIR OWN HOUSE DOWN, then expect us to build it back… WTF!!!

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • Southernguy
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:19am

      Bingo!!

      Report Post » Southernguy  
    • sWampy
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:29am

      Or the houses of their land lords. ;-(

      Report Post »  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:42pm

      They won’t be able to move back into the rebuilt home if they have a bullet in their head.

      Report Post »  
    • turkey13
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 3:59pm

      The police need to pull back and let them burn everything down. This country has already gone down the toilet. Give these commies tents and 100 pound bags of rice, water – no electricty and let them tuff it out. They won’t believe how good they had it it before. Wow, this makes me think of California and some other Librel hot beds in the USA.

      Report Post »  
    • kapnkd
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 6:26pm

      Obummer and flunkies are counting on it!

      He’s not worried about the 2012 “Election” as he’s hoping to simply impose Marshall Law and suspend ALL our rights and freedoms – permanently!!!

      Report Post » kapnkd  
  • TRONINTHEMORNING
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:09am

    A possible taste of what’s to come to the USA.

    Report Post »  
    • I.Gaspar
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:16am

      Yeah; that could be our feta.

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:20am

      We have time to avoid it, if we wake up before 2012.

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Locked
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:25am

      The US already has more debt per person than Greece… I think the main issue is that the Greek have much better benefits than Americans, so they feel they have “more to lose.”

      Report Post »  
    • Gonzo
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:45am

      We have (or could have again) a much greater potential for growth than they have Locked, we CAN get the train back on the tracks, if we start pushing NOW!

      Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:47am

      @TronIntheMorning:

      This MAY be the future of America, God is giving us time to make the changes, rough though they will be in the future; WE can chose to make the changes that are needed, and hold on as a nation and families for the storm that is here NOW.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:41pm

      Hey Snow
      The only changes that we need to make here is to physically get rid of all progs. I mean every last stinking one of them.

      Report Post »  
    • rightwingheroes
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 3:00pm

      I hope they get their insurrection here in America, that way I get a reason to beat Libs to within an inch of their lives in the streets.

      Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:08am

    .
    The Roof. the Roof is on Fire. We don’t need no government let this Mother %$#^@& Burn……..

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • Aaron in Polk County
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:16am

      Protests are the new Greek Olympiad.

      Report Post » Aaron in Polk County  
    • lovenfl3
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:17am

      This is the liberal mindset on display. First they protested the countries decision to slow down out of control spending. Now they are protesting tax hikes proposed by the government so they can keep spending. It is impossible to ever make a liberal happy. This will be coming here as our out of control debt hits the brick wall. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNaZeZBGD2c

      Report Post » lovenfl3  
    • mikem1969
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:23am

      And to think this is what the left wants for the US. But of course, if they get their wish they get to enact rex84 on all those on obahitlerstalinmao’s list of enemies.

      Report Post »  
    • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 9:25am

      And so ignites the “European Summer” soon to be followed by the Winter of America if we fail to make the stand on the storm that is here and now; the worst is still coming and is within hearing randge of all who bother to do so…we still have time, let the watchmen who will see and do give the call in the midnight hours of the storm.

      Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • Anonymous T. Irrelevant
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:05am

      “But many Greeks insist they should not be forced to pay for a crisis they believe the politicians are responsible for.”
      ______________________________________
      One they benefitted from? They are just like the unions here in the States. They will only take, take, take and never contribute. They don’t seem to realize they are taking out more than they are putting in. Then, they burn and destroy and it is costing more to rebuild. Stupid, just stupid.
      .

      Report Post » Anonymous T. Irrelevant  
    • Pujols
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:09am

      COMING SOON! __________To your Hood………….

      Report Post »  
    • Mr. Oshawott
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:32am

      At this rate, the Greeks will find themselves beings slaves to debt for quite some time. If only they resisted those seemingly appealing “benefits” from the government…

      Report Post » Mr. Oshawott  
    • SgtB
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:35am

      We don’t need police and government to stop riots here. That is what my m-14 and rem 887 12 guage are for. Guarantee that no mob will ever burn my car or home (or anyone else’s) with me there to see it.

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:40am

      I can’t be out of money.

      I still have checks, in my checkbook.

      Obamanomics at it’s terminal point.

      Report Post » 13th Imam  
    • TheOracleOfTruth
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 10:52am

      funny little communists, they have no idea how stupid they look, and have no idea what they are fighting for…social justice, LOL?

      just ask all of the dead Soviets, Chinese, Germans and Cambodians – 130 million dead and they got their social justice in the name of communism and fascism…go ahead and riot you useless tools! no education, no morals, no honor, just gimmie gimmie gimmie…

      Report Post »  
    • drattastic
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 11:11am

      There won’t be any country or countries able or willing to bail us out if are stupid enough to keep electing progressive/socialist .Greece is just one more example and the end result of Marxist principles. Yet liberal types ignore the evidence right in their faces and continue to march right over the cliff ,that would be fine with me if we weren’t dragged into the abyss with them. There is something missing in their brains.

      Report Post » drattastic  
    • HKS
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 11:24am

      W hatch you mean, take my free ****. Gimme my social justice.

      Report Post » HKS  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:08pm

      Detroit first? Or will it be LA? Maybe Chicago…Place your bets!

      Report Post »  
    • Blackhawk1
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:20pm

      Dustyluv

      With the UAW running Detroit that would be my bet.

      Report Post » Blackhawk1  
    • KevINtampa
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:33pm

      When will the liberals get the simple fact that what the government giveth, it must first taketh… It comes from someone, and when those someone’s run out of whatever is being taken, it’s taken from the populace as a whole. Taketh as long as you don’t taketh from me, giveth as long as you giveth to me. This is a mindset that only leads to the absence of liberty. Most liberals don’t even realize what that means.

      Report Post »  
    • Mil-Dot
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:34pm

      Yep, they just cannot fathom the fact that the money tree does not exist. “There has to be a lake of gold and silver somewhere. They stole it and hid it from us” one protester was overheard saying.

      Report Post »  
    • Jaycen
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:15pm

      God, these Socialists are so completely dependent upon government, they can’t even THINK for themselves. They don’t feel responsible for putting and keeping their leaders in place, and they now don’t feel responsible for their own survival.

      America, WAKE UP, fools. We are walking down this road. Wait…we’re RUNNING down this road.

      Report Post » Jaycen  
    • Therightsofbilly
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 1:21pm

      Drattastic WROTE:
      “There is something missing in their brains”.

      Yes, there is something missing.

      Common sense, and the ability to reason.

      Report Post » Therightsofbilly  
    • rightwingheroes
      Posted on June 28, 2011 at 2:57pm

      I hope this happens here so we get the chance to beat down Liberals in the streets.

      Report Post »  
    • the_zazzy
      Posted on June 29, 2011 at 5:04pm

      Is this what we’re waiting for??

      Report Post » the_zazzy  
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