What’s Up in Greece on Feb 12/12? tagged: , , , , , , ,

What’s Up in Greece on Feb 12/12?

Posted by in Very Mix

The peak of anti-austerity protests is up in Greece today, as members of the Parliament will gather to vote for the 2nd bailout and the new austerity package containing painful and unbearable measures for the society.

Public and private sector unions ADEDY and GSEE have called for a mass protest at 5 pm outside the Parliament, at Syntagma square on Sunday.

Music composer Mikis Theodorakis and left politician Manolis Glezos have called also people to join the protest with the slogan “stop the treason“.

Organizers expect to be the biggest anti-austerity protest ever.

However the weather seems to play a pro-Troika role, with rain all through the day.

The Parliament debate is scheduled to start at 2 pm.

More than 5,000 policemen will be placed in downtown Athens.

The police has closed the Athens Metro station <Syntagma> all through the day, stations <Panepistimiou> and <Evangelismos> will be closed later. The metro wagons will pass through these stations without stop. This is a usual action to prevent possible riots to take place inside the metro stations.

The austerity package has triggered turbulence in the Papademos coalition partners. Greek media reported on Sunday morning, that some 40 MPs from socialist PASOK and conservative Nea Dimokratia declared they will not vote in favor of the package.

PM Lucas Papademos warned the Greeks of possible disorderly bankruptcy, if the MPs fail to approve the 2nd bailout and the austerity package. In his televised address to the nation on Saturday night, Papademos said more or less the same things, he had told his cabinet on Friday.

KTG posted a report about why Greeks will protest today. Some quotes of friends mainly. Of course, other protesters have other motives …