Athens burns as Greece bailout passed

**Mazmaz** · 2012-02-12 17:28

http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/story/2...lout-vote.html

Riots engulfed central Athens and at least 10 buildings went up in flames in mass protests late Sunday as parlimentary lawmakers voted to enact unpopular austerity measures aimed at keeping the country solvent.

TV footage showed a three-storey corner building completely consumed by flames with riot officers looking on from the street, and firefighters trying to douse the blaze.

A closed cinema, a bank, a mobile phone dealership, a glassware store and a cafeteria were among the burning buildings, the fire department said.

There were no report of people trapped inside.

Protesters had set bonfires in front of parliament and dozens of riot police formed lines in an effort to deter them from attempting a run on parliament.

Before the vote result was announced early Monday, Prime Minister Lucas Papademos had urged calm, pointing to the country's dire financial straits.
PM urges calm

"Vandalism and destruction have no place in a democracy and will not be tolerated," Papademos told Parliament. "I call on the public to show calm. At these crucial times, we do not have the luxury of this type of protest. I think everyone is aware of how serious the situation is."

Papademos' government — a coalition of the majority Socialists and their main foes, the conservative New Democracy —controls 236 of Parliament's 300 seats, although at least 20 lawmakers from both main parties had said they would not back the new private sector wage cuts, pension reductions and civil service layoffs dictated by the draft austerity program.

The legislation was aimed at securing a €130 billion ($171.1-billion) bailout from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund.

Lawmakers were also asked to approve a bond-swapping deal with private creditors that will allow Greece to shave off at least €100 billion ($130 million) of its €360 billion ($475 billion) debt.

Clouds of tear gas drifted across the square in front of parliament. Many in the crowd wore gas masks and had their faces covered, while others carried Greek flags and carried banners.

Dozens of police officers and at least 37 protesters were injured, and more than 20 suspected rioters were detained.

Clashes erupted after more than 100,000 protesters marched to parliament to rally against drastic austerity cuts that will axe one in five civil service jobs and slash the minimum wage by more than a fifth.

Since May 2010, Greece has survived on a C110 billion ($145 billion) bailout from its European partners and the International Monetary Fund.

When that proved insufficient, a new rescue loan package was decided, combined with a massive bond swap deal that will write off half the country's privately held debt. For both deals to materialize, Greece has to persuade its deeply skeptical creditors that it has the will and ability to implement spending cuts and public sector reforms.

Anyone have awesome riot footage to share?

**6souls** · 2012-02-12 18:56

**Kuya** · 2012-02-12 18:56

I hope protest dog is back.

**Correction** · 2012-02-12 19:00

This isn't even close to the worst things will get for Greece. The austerity measures ensure a bailout that amounts to little more than a bandaid on a gushing wound while they wait and pray for some kind of economic miracle that grows their economy again. But chances are we'll be right back here in six months, with Greece perpetually enslaved to foreign debt and with a government lacking in any credibility.

**Correction** · 2012-02-12 19:12

Follow:

http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/2...oting-tonight/
The parent site has older updates on the buildup, including the general strike immediately preceding the rioting: http://www.occupiedlondon.org/blog/

**Mazmaz** · 2012-02-12 19:34

Man those police are lacking some serious riot gear.

**Correction** · 2012-02-12 19:58

Originally Posted by Mazmaz

Man those police are lacking some serious riot gear.

They are more than amply armed compared to the protestors.

**Drex** · 2012-02-12 20:41

Do you think they would fuck with the historic areas?

**Mazmaz** · 2012-02-12 21:00

Greece should just default imo

**Overburn** · 2012-02-12 21:07

Originally Posted by Drex

Do you think they would fuck with the historic areas?

As far as I know, Greeks have an insane amount of pride of their heritage, so I can't really seeing it being something the main protests try to do.

**tyven** · 2012-02-12 21:11

Jesse Katsopolis is Greece's only hope.

**Day** · 2012-02-12 21:12

This picture is badass, anyone know what the graffiti says?
http://nationalpostnews.files.wordpr.../greece-33.jpg

**Overburn** · 2012-02-12 21:24

Something like "Police you eat your children." in reference to them not fighting their own people I'm guessing.

**Day** · 2012-02-12 21:26

That's pretty badass as far as protest pictures go

**Tajin** · 2012-02-12 21:27

That is some crazy shit.

**archibaldcrane** · 2012-02-12 23:01

Originally Posted by Correction

This isn't even close to the worst things will get for Greece. The austerity measures ensure a bailout that amounts to little more than a bandaid on a gushing wound while they wait and pray for some kind of economic miracle that grows their economy again. But chances are we'll be right back here in six months, with Greece perpetually enslaved to foreign debt and with a government lacking in any credibility.

So even with the austerity measures they are nowhere near a balanced budget?

**Mayareira** · 2012-02-13 03:48

Originally Posted by archibaldcrane

So even with the austerity measures they are nowhere near a balanced budget?

Yeah, sorta.

Germany is asking for more and more cuts as with current plans, they can only bring their debt down to 136% of their GDP by 2020.

**Shenrien** · 2012-02-13 04:05

I love the pics.

**Nevex** · 2012-02-13 04:25

Pointless protest is pointless. Good job at deal further economic damage to a country that is trying to recover.

**Khajit** · 2012-02-13 06:20

Originally Posted by Nevex

Pointless protest is pointless. Good job at deal further economic damage to a country that is trying to recover.

Are you joking? Didn't the entire populace vote against this overwhelmingly a few months ago and now the government turns around to pass said bailout? When a democratic nation/republic ignores the will of it's people the people are SUPPOSED to be angry.

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