Galery

1

Anastsia Balezdrova

The two largest unions in Greece, GSEE and ADEDY held a meeting on the eve of German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s visit to Athens as they had announced last week.
Around 5,000 people gathered in Syntagma Square - mostly employees in the public sector, members of the Communist trade union PAME and ordinary citizens.
Representatives of non-parliamentary parties appeared gradually and the protest resembled a last year’s meeting of the discontented. They were loudly shouting slogans against the policy of the government and the European Union. They had prepared a large banner with the colours of the German flag especially for Angela Merkel, with which they sent her the message that Greece needs a "plan B". Other more passionate participants were shouting slogans against "all the Nazis"

Shortly after 8 pm, the participants started to leave, promising to meet at tomorrow's protest meetings.
At the same time, a tight police ring had already gripped the centre of Athens. The iron fence known already from last year's violent protests was stretched out in addition to the iron barrier in front of the parliament on Vassilis Sofias Avenue. Dozens of police buses were deployed behind it and along the avenue to Irodou Attikou Street, where the residences of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and President Carols Papoulias are located.
After the meeting, the traffic flow in the central streets was restored. The underground stations at Syntagma, Omonia and Panepistimio were also open to residents.

Trade union leaderships have stated that despite the police ban, their meeting will take place in Syntagma Square at 1 pm tomorrow as announced. It is expected to involve SYRIZA’s leader Alexis Tsipras and the chairman of the German left-wing party Die Linke Bernd Riexinger.