In an unprecedented low participation of demonstrators the May Day rallies concluded in Athens and some other Greek cities. Estimated 10,000 people, from public and private sector unions and left parties took to the streets of Athens to protest harsh austerity programmes, high unemployment. Just a couple of days before the crucial parliamentary elections on May 6th.
With the common slogan “Nobody alone! Together we can!”, demonstrators chanted “Enough!” and “The measures won’t pass!”
Riot police had taken place to “protect” the Parliament and police had closed the Metro station at Syntagma square out of fear of potential unrests.
The rallies concluded peacefully.
Except from minor damages at elections stands of several small parties, caused by extremists.
Picture NewsIt reporter @leuteris
Unionists from Portugal sent a solidarity video message, while German MP Heike Hänsel (Die Linke) addressed protesters at Kotzia Square. “The difference is not between the Greek and the German people. We must fight together against this system”, she said.
As demonstrators left the area, police opened again the Metro station at Syntagma.
In some Greek cities, May Day protesters booed elections candidates that dared to appear at the rallies.
*** According to latest reports, riot police and a group of youth clashed at Exarchia district of Athens, some 1.5 km away from Parliament.
picture @MakisSinodinos
The youth hurled molotov cocktail bombs, the police fired stun grenades and tear gas.
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/317448/Outrage-as-we-lavish-10m-on-EU-s-jet-set
WASTEFUL EU chiefs have provoked fury after it emerged that they have signed a £10million deal to fly them around the world in private jets.
While hard-pressed taxpayers are struggling to pay their weekly bills, the European foreign affairs supremo Baroness Ashton and other unelected eurocrats will be globe-trotting in luxury at the public’s expense.
While Greeks starve, the EU buys itself luxury jets!