"Greeks again protest austerity plans" May 30, 2011|Associated Press
ATHENS — About 30,000 people protested in Athens yesterday against the government’s tough economic austerity policies.
Related:
"NATO figures show that Greece spent 2.8 percent of gross domestic product on its armed forces in 2008. That makes it the most expensive military budget in Europe in per capita terms, and second only to the United States in the alliance."
No austerity there. Banker$ like bullet$ and bomb$.
The demonstration, larger than many others that have taken place during Greece’s economic crisis, appeared to be the first that resulted from spontaneous calls over social media sites such as Facebook. Many others have been organized by unions or political factions.
Pointing at Parliament, many of the protesters chanted “Thieves! Thieves!’’ Others shouted slogans against Prime Minister George Papandreou and the International Monetary Fund. No violence was reported and few police were on the scene.
Yeah, because they were part of the crowd.
Papandreou has vowed to continue his fiscal reforms. Yesterday, he warned against “sirens’’ calling for Greece to default on its debt. He said it is “foreign taxpayers’ money’’ that has allowed his nation to continue paying public sector salaries and pensions.
Why don't you just blow the bankers on TV?
Reforms are painful, but the economy will return to growth in 2012, he said. The austerity measures have eroded the incomes of many Greeks, causing widespread anger.
Because they know where the money is going.
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"Greece prepares for EU decision; Papandreou had presented more budget cuts" by Maria Petrakis, Bloomberg News / May 31, 2011
ATHENS — Prime Minister George Papandreou is trying to convince European Union officials that he can deliver on pledged budget cuts and asset sales needed to secure more bailout aid after opposition parties rejected the measures.
And he's supposed to be a socialist?
EU and International Monetary Fund officials will conclude within days a review of whether Greece has made enough progress to receive the fifth installment of its $157 billion. To secure the funds, Papandreou unveiled last week more budget cuts and speedier asset sales, but failed to get the multiparty support demanded by the EU and IMF.
You see who the "socialist" serves, right?
Greece’s inability to meet the deficit-reduction goals of the original bailout forced Papandreou to present a fifth round of budget cuts....
Bondholder losses are mounting as the yield gap between 10-year Greek bonds and German bunds reached a record last week.
“It will take a long time to enact the privatizations and will be politically controversial,’’ said Martin Blum, co-head of asset management at Ithuba Capital in Vienna. The EU and IMF “want to ensure that politicians don’t try to score points, and it’s also clear the government is losing support and sooner or later a change could occur,’’ he said.
Like a REGIME change?
With Papandreou’s term due to end in 2013 and polls showing New Democracy gaining support....
The wage cuts and tax increases under Greece’s bailout have led to strikes, driven the economy into recession for a third year, and boosted unemployment to a record....
New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras said he wouldn’t be blackmailed into accepting the austerity plan after meeting with Papandreou and other political leaders in Athens. European Union Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn followed up by saying it was “essential’’ for all parties to support the program and “time was running out.’’
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Update:
GREECE: Shocking New Bailout Conditions Mean The End Of National Sovereignty
IT'S STARTING - Bank Runs Begin In Greece
Military coup possible in Greece
Another one?
