EUROZONE-GREECE/BAILOUT PROTEST Greeks stage rallies over bailout reforms ahead of vote in parliament

Record ID: 135031

  • Title: EUROZONE-GREECE/BAILOUT PROTEST Greeks stage rallies over bailout reforms ahead of vote in parliament
  • Date: 17th October 2015
  • Summary: ATHENS, GREECE (OCTOBER 16, 2015) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS SUPPORTING COMMUNIST PARTY AFFILIATED UNION 'PAME' HOLDING UNION FLAGS AND MARCHING PROTESTERS CHANTING ANTI-BAILOUT SLOGANS PROTESTERS AT RALLY PROTESTERS HOLDING BANNER READING (Greek): 'TSIPRAS' BAILOUT BRINGS POVERTY, SHUTDOWNS AND UNEMPLOYMENT' PROTESTER, VANGELIS DIMOULAS, AT RALLY (SOUNDBITE) (Greek)
  • Embargoed: 1st November 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Greece
  • Country: Greece
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA8RJXJSGANY0ZQLCYIIVKLVMZO
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Hundreds of Greeks, including workers, students, pensioners and unemployed people, rallied outside the Greek parliament in Athens on Friday (October 16) over an omnibus bill cutting pensions, raising the retirement age and increasing punishments for tax evasion.
    The protesters marched through the city streets, carrying flags and banners reading 'Tsipras' bailout brings poverty, shutdowns and unemployment,' before reaching the parliament, where lawmakers were debating the bailout agreement ahead of a midnight vote.
    "The current government demolishes social security. If we don't fight there won't be any social security in the future. Future workers will have neither health insurance nor pensions," said protester Vangelis Dimoulas.
    "As students, we want to say "enough". We can't take any more measures. That's why we are here with our parents, with our future colleagues. We are sending a message of hope, that all of us together stand stronger," said another protester 21-year-old student Dimitra Kastori.
    Athens wants to wrap up the review of its first bailout and recapitalise its banks quickly, to secure fresh aid and talks on debt relief. But it must first enact a long list of reforms in its 86 billion-euro bailout, which was also approved by opposition parties.
    The bill includes only a first set of reforms, gradually raising the retirement age to 67 by 2022 and cutting pensions by 10 percent for people below that age who have retired.
    Greece has promised its creditors a comprehensive pension reform plan by December. But Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' leftist government faces resistance to changes from a country worn down by six years of recession and austerity.
    Inspectors from the European Commission, European Central Bank, eurozone rescue fund and International Monetary Fund are expected in Athens at the end of October to assess progress on Greece's third international bailout.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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