Thousands of angry Greek workers marched to parliament on Tuesday to protest against austerity, waving banners reading “EU, IMF out!” as Athens’ lenders arrived for talks in a race against the clock to avert a messy bankruptcy.
Greece’s private sector creditors warned on Monday that the government must urgently break a deadlock in negotiations on a plan to slash the country’s debt, if is to avoid a disorderly default when a major bond redemption comes due in late March.
A team of EU, IMF and ECB officials started combing through Athens’ books on Tuesday as part of efforts to put together a 130-billion-euro rescue package the country needs, together with the debt swap deal, to stay afloat.
“We want them to get lost. They are pushing the country towards collapse with these measures. They are selling off Greece,” said Yannis Tsalimoglou, a 51-year old dockworker, whose income has taken a 30-percent hit with the crisis.
“We must resist,” said 52-year old mother of two Evgenia Panagiou, a private sector employee who has not been paid since October. “Why are they doing this to us? It’s not our fault. They (politicians) devoured the money and they are still getting the same big salaries.”
The strike brought the Athens metro to a standstill on Tuesday and no ferries left from the city’s main ports. Journalists walked off the job and buses will run for only part of the day.
(source: Reuters)
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