Greek protesters attempt to storm government building - Thessaloniki

Greek protesters attempt to storm government building - Thessaloniki, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Anti-government protests - Thessaloniki, Greece

Anti-government protests - Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Greek protesters charge gates of ministry building - Thessaloniki, Greece

Greek protesters charge gates of ministry building - Thessaloniki, Greece, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

In what is shaping up to be a clash between the entire labour movement and the Greek government, thousands took to the streets today to march in the protests against prime minister's Giorgos Papandreou's new economic package which sees widespread cuts in public sector services and pay cuts for civil servants. In addition a number of raises in VAT and indirect taxes have sparked off a wave of anger and demonstrations. Thessaloniki, Greece. 05/03/2010.

In today's marches organised by the PAME trade union confederation, demonstrators shouted “Give us back our stolen money” a reference to the widerspread belief that much of the country's 300 billion euro debt as been pocketed by mainstream politicians and those with close economic ties to Greece's two main ruling parties, New Democracy and PASOK which have governed since 1974.

Riot police used tear gas and pepper spray when protesters belonging to a coalition of left wing parties and groups attempted to bring down the main gate at the entrance to the ex – ministry of Macedonia and Thrace in the northern port city of Thessaloniki. About a dozen of the demonstrators managed to enter the ground of the government building to stage a symbolic occupation.

More picture here on Demotix.com

Greek trade unions fire opening salvo over austerity measures

Greek trade unions fire opening salvo over austerity measures, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

In what promises to be the opening shots in a war of attrition Greek public and private sector trade unions have taken to the streets in the country's major cities angry with the drastic cuts in pay announced by prime minister, Giorgos Papandreou yesterday. Thessaloniki, Greece 03/03/2010

The cuts in salaries combined with a rises in VAT of between 1 and 2% have angered many Greeks who believe the $420 billion debt has gone to line the pockets of the rich and that it is they who should shoulder the burden of reducing the deficit. Marching under the banner, “The plutocracy should pay” the communist controlled PAMe trade union confederation marched this today in Athens and Thessaloniki. Other actions also included an occupation of the economics ministry and the state run ET3 TV station.

On the internet Greek Twitter users could barely contain their outrage over the new economic measures which aim to fill government coffers and cut down on the bloated government budget. However there was anger over the fact that areas such as defence spending which soaks up 4.3% of GNP, a figure twice that of the UK was untouched wheras the education budget was cut by 600 million euros.

Tomorrow sees the first in a series of widespread strike actions across Greece which threaten to bring the country to a standstill.

Demotix

Greek Community Party Youth Wing (KNE) in protest last night in Thessaloniki

Greek Community Party Youth Wing (KNE) in protest last night in Thessaloniki, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

This was second of two protests last night against the government's austerity package which has angered many here.

Greek PM goes to war but with whom?

Greek taxi drivers go on 24 hours strike, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Today the Greek prime minister Giorgos Papndreou announced a series of emergency measures aimed at raisng government revenues and cutting costs. These have included hikes in VAT across the board extra tax on petrol, alcohol and tobacco, cuts in civil servent's pay and a freeze on pension rises.

In his address to the Greek parliament Papandreou said that the country is "at war" and that these measures are necessary to avoid the country going bankrupt.

The reaction on the internet and on the street has ranged from desperation to outrage at the seeming injustice of members of the country's pampered political elite demanding sacrifices after making such a huge mess of running the country. On hearing the measures I found myself reminded of a quote from The Crow in which Eric Draven says to a drug lord,

"I see you have made your decision, now let's see you enforce it."

Over the coming days, weeks and months we are going to witness a showdown between a morally and intellectually bankrupt political nomenclature which has lied through its teeth to just about anyone who will listen both at home and abroad and the ordinary people in this country over who gets the foot the bill for decades of greed and mismanagement.