The rally organized on social media and asking the SYRIZA-ANEL coalition to resign started at 18:30 outside the Greek Parliament and Syntagma Square.
One hour later and it seems that there are no more than 7,000-8,000 protesters waving flags and banners with anti-government and anti-Tsipras slogans.
The anti-government protest was allegedly initiated by pro-Europe supporters without party affiliation and without ideological “color”. It turned out that some of the initiators are affiliated with PASOK, while several members and supporters of main opposition party, conservative New Democracy have urged and keep urging people to join the rally.
Education Minister Nikos Filis said “we discovered that behind the rally was New Democracy.”
In fact, the true face of the rally came behind the mask after a war of words between SYRIZA supporters and #Resign-supporters unfolded on social media Twitter and Facebook.
pictures via @prezatv
Down with the junta of SYRIZANEL
picture via zougla.gr
It was supposed to be a spontaneous anti-government protest… too sad that some neo-liberal figures of Greece’s public life declared their support.
“Go home Tsipras” flag at the #SYRIZA_GO_HOME anti gov protest in #Athens #Greece #παραιτηθειτε
According to Mega TV, the age of protesters sis between 30 and 70, with many pensioners, mothers with kids and employees, protesters in suit [!] who all declare against the latest taxation tsunami and are angry about the “lies of Tsipras” before the two elections in 2015.
According to Mega reporter, slogans “Tsipras resign” are heard all over the place but the people are reluctant to chant with.
The anti-authoritarian movement had prepared an anti-anti-government but also anti-government rally more or less at the same time and place today and with slogan “Attack!”. So far, no anti-authoritarian has appeared in the area.
Picture @JohnKemmos
The verbal dispute between SYRIZa, ND, PASOK and Potami on the rally continue and the social media battle and trolling is in full development for the time being.
πιτσιρίκος @pitsirikos 9 minutes ago
Έντονες διαμαρτυρίες στο Σύνταγμα από τους #παραιτηθειτε γιατί η κυβέρνηση δεν άναψε το air condition στη συγκέντρωσή τους. #SYRIZA_GO_HOME
Strong reaction in Syntagma from the resign-front because the government did not turn the A/C on.
S. Charalampopoulos @Sot_Charal 4 minutes ago
Τυχεροί οι #Παραιτηθείτε. Αν είχε κάνα Γαλλία – Ιταλία στο #EURO2016 τώρα, ούτε οι διοργανωτές δεν θα ήταν στο #Syntagma. #SYRIZA_Go_Home
The #Resign are lucky. If there was a Grance vs Italy on EURO2016 now, not even the organizers would be at Syntagma.
* παραιτηθειτε = resign
You can follow the rally on Twitter in #SYRIZA_Go_Home, #syngtagma, #paraititheite
PS I cannot say which austerity package is better: the one with left-wing approach or the one with neo-liberal approach. In my eyes, both look the same.
I like the “I Have A Dream” picture best.
BRAVO Greece.
Some times life gives you the ball ….
If they – Tsipras & Varoufakis had taken the risk, done what they had promised the votes of Greece, who knows what the circumstances for Greece & the EU would be today.
However – these 2 guys would have been held up as honest men & even hero’s in the face of adversity.
Today they are less than nothing to speak of.