THESSALONIKI-Carolos Papoulias, President of the Greek Democracy was forced to leave from the parade celebrating the anniversary of the heroic “OXI”- the “no” that the Greek prime minister Ioannis Metaxas said to Italy’s ultimatum asking the surrender of Greece to the forces of the Axis. That was on October 28th, 1940.
October 2011 however, after a controversial rescue plan and an even more controversial 50% haircut, Greek citizens say “OXI” once more but not to the Italians.
This time it is their very own government they want out. Hundreds of demonstrators in Thessaloniki took over the street where the parade was supposed to take place and shouted some rather insulting slogans for the Greek government. Mr Papoulias was standing on the dignitaries’ platform, patiently waiting for the parade to start for more than half an hour whilst listening to” Get out of here you thieves” and “You are traitors”. Riot police tried to push them away but the demonstrators would’nt leave. Mr Papoulias seemed rather irritated and declared ” I’m truly disappointed. They should have chosen another day to demonstrate.
They can’t call me a traitor. I fought for this country since I was fifteen years old” .“It is clear that these are organized groups,” said Thessaloniki Mayor Yiannis Boutaris. «I don’t know if they have been triggered by political parties. I’m not sure which party would think there is anything to gain from this.”Boutaris defended himself against accusations that he had been poorly prepared for the protests.
The parade in Thessaloniki got cancelled, for the first time since the parades began but things are not much better in Athens and Pireas where demonstrators have taken over the streets as well and shout slogans against politicians.
Prime Minister George Papandreou contacted Papoulias by telephone to express his sorrow over the incident, blasting “efforts to undermine the democratic institutions in the country,” according to local media.
Greek government spokesman Elias Mossialos said it’s an insult to the institution of the Presidency and the struggles of Greek people by a small minority.
Far-right Popular Orthodox Rally party called for the resignation of Citizen’s Protection Minister Christos Papoutsis over the failure of police forces to disperse the crowd, while ruling socialist party deputies and opposition lawmakers criticized the events.
Main opposition conservative New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras commented that it was “a destructive reaction to a destructive government policy that marred the national holiday.”
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