Greeks rebel against austerity drive in May Day protests
Greeks rebel against austerity drive in May Day protests
Saturday, 01, May 2010 12:44
By Matthew Champion.
Greek riot police have fired tear gas at youths as clashes broke out during trade union protests ahead of an impending austerity drive programme to be announced by the country's government.
Tensions rose as youths, some of them armed with sticks, marched past the finance ministry in Athens, part of a series of May Day rallies taking place across Greece. Major protests were also reported in the northern city of Thessaloniki.
The austerity drive, which the Greek prime minister has admitted will be a period of intense hardship until 2012, is a precondition of a multi-billion-euro bailout forthcoming from the eurozone economies and the International Monetary Fund.
The EU's leading economies have agreed to act to prevent Greece from defaulting on its enormous debt obligations, with a final bailout agreement expected this weekend.
Greek PM George Papandreou is expected to announce the details of his public spending cuts once the package is approved.
"They're trying to pass very reactionary measures," one protestor told al-Jazeera in Athens.
"They're trying to do away with all the rights we have gained through struggles in previous years."