Tensions are extremely high ahead of a vote that could shape the future of a country and a currency. In an election with wide implications, the Greek people are holding parliamentary elections are really a proxy battle on the international austerity packages the country is being pushed to take by other international governments. This is actually the second round — a prior May 6 vote effectively created a stalemate due to the rise of the once-obscure Syriza party, which promises to cancel all austerity deals if elected. Above is a clip that explains exactly what’s at stake — the possible break-up of the Eurozone. And below, a couple of notable things that happened so far today:
Journalists in crisis-hit Greece have gone on strike to protest pay cuts, rising unemployment, and to press for the signing of new collective wage contracts.
The 24-hour strike stopped all TV and radio news broadcasts Monday, while most internet news portals were not updating their content. No newspapers will be published Tuesday.
Could you imagine if the news just … stopped one day? Not just one newspaper — but nearly all of them? Pretty crazy. Best of luck to the journalists who put themselves on the line today.
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The Greek government has a new problem: A potential martyr. A 77-year-old man who recently recently shot and killed himself in Athens’ Syntagma Square has become a symbol for anti-austerity activists, leading to heavy protests Wednesday, including chants like ”this was no suicide, it was a state-perpetrated murder.” Greece, rocked by a tough state of austerity, has unemployment at 21 percent — higher for young people — and tens of thousands of jobs have been lost. (Photo: People gather at the site of the man’s shooting. Thanassis Stavrakis/AP)
They’re trying to lay the ground for it, trying to limit the contagion from it.Center for European Reform Chief Economist Simon Tilford • Discussing the European Union’s struggles with Greece, which could end in default for Greece. If Greece defaults, which may be become more and more likely, the goal is to prevent the default from affecting other countries, to prevent global collapse. The issue is becoming a very difficult one to avoid for the country — to the point where members of each of the major Greek coalition parties have expelled members who did not vote yes on an important austerity measure Sunday. The measure, which needed to pass so the country could continue to get foreign loans, passed 199 to 74, with 27 absentions.
We only have to wait for the prime minister’s announcements in the cabinet. Everything must be done within the day, otherwise tomorrow it will be hell.Greek politician Telemachos Hitiris • Discussing the expected plans for the Greek government, which just had a prime minister survive a no-confidence vote. The plan now will be to come up with an interim coalition government to replace Prime Minister George Papandreou, who could resign as soon as Sunday. It’s been a weird week in Greek politics, in case you haven’t been following along. source (via • follow)
Greek austerity protests: Tens of thousands take part in massive strike: Roughly 16,000 people showed up for protests in Athens, and another 10,000 showed up in the northern city of Thessaloniki. The protests are in reaction to expected job cutbacks due to austerity measures. source
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» Harsh words for the opposition: George Papandreou, the leader of the Socialist Party, had this to say towards the opposition New Democrats in the heat of the all-important vote: “All of Europe knows that your party is responsible for the current situation.” The vote, which only one member of parliament on either side crossed lines for, means that the country will receive a $17 billion rescue plan to make it through the Summer, with a second, much larger one in the works. Meanwhile, outside parliament, large-scale protests continued unabated.
» 48-hour general strike called: With Greece facing a difficult austerity vote today, protesters have shown up by the thousands outside of the country’s parliament. The strike has shut down most public services, including transit. Airports and hospitals have also suffered the deep effects of the strikes. The passage of the measures, however, is key — a large loan from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund rests on their passage. If they don’t get it, they risk going into default, which would be very bad.
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