1000s of Greeks protest govt. economic reforms
Greek police officers, firefighters, and coast guards protest outside parliament during an anti-austerity demonstration in Athens. (file photo)
Thousands of Greeks have demonstrated in Athens to protest against the government’s economic reforms, saying the reforms target the ordinary people while leaving the rich unaffected, Press TV reports.
On Thursday, the demonstrators took to the streets of the capital to voice their anger at tax hikes and cuts in public spending and wages, which they said added more pressure to an already struggling society.
Students, workers, pensioners, the unemployed and the disabled were among those who joined the anti-government rally.
Thursday’s demonstration was accompanied by a nationwide strike by metro workers. The metro staff, who barricaded themselves inside the network’s headquarters near Athens, are against the government’s pay cuts in the public sector and have refused to return to work.
On January 16, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) approved a $4.31-billion (3.24-billion euro) loan installment to Greece after completing reviews of the debt-plagued country’s economic performance.
The amount was part of a four-year $36.6-billion (28-billion euro) rescue loan IMF had granted to Greece on March 15, 2012 to support the country’s economic adjustment program.
The IMF said that the loan was granted on the condition that the country impose spending cuts and other austerity measures.
Greece has been in a recession since late 2008. The country has been cutting down its spending over the past four years, which has resulted in many Greeks losing their jobs.
One in every four Greek workers is currently unemployed, banks are in a shaky position, and pensions and salaries have been slashed by up to 40 percent.
The country has been surviving on bailout loans from its international creditors since May 2010.
MN/MHB
