Galery

3

2

1

Tear gas, one person arrested, an attempted burning of the German flag and thousands of angry citizens is the outcome of the protest so far. The protest was organized by the union of private sector employees GSEE, the union of public sector employees ADEDY and the trade union of the Greek Communist Party PAME. They have announced a 24-hour strike again and neither the torrential rain, nor the cold wind has spoiled it. The bad weather did not stop thousands of angry Greeks from going back into the streets of Athens to protest against the salary cuts in the private sector and the dismissals the new austerity measures will bring as a condition of paying the second bailout to Greece.

Unlike other protests, this one cannot be called either apathetic, or spiritless. Public opinion does not accept that a 35% cut in wages will solve Greece's problems. "Thieves, traitors, German servants" was heard from the angry mobs, which gathered down on Syntagma Square near the Ministry of Finance at 11 am. Then, they slowly began to move towards the Parliament building "People work a lifetime. Let the financial markets and politicians pay the bill this time," chanted the strikers.

Tensions during the protest rose to the extreme and riot forces used tear gas again to disperse the protesters. This time, ordinary people were as active as the boys in black, who support various anarchist or leftist organizations. On the steps to the Parliament, a small group tried to set fire to the German flag, which was tied to the Nazi flag, but the rain played a trick on them. The fabrics failed to flare, but the symbolism was there.

Protesters and police stood face to face on the steps to the front entrance of the Parliament. Some shouted, "Papademos, resign!," others - "dirty cops! They guard the politicians and beat the people!" A minute later, the first bomb with tear gas exploded. People fled. There were separate voices calling for calm. Then, the police captured one of the protesters, which stirred the spirits again. There was another gas bombing. Then, the rain began to fall harder and people scattered. Although the protest had been called off, many angry people remained under the shelters of surrounding buildings in the area or under the trees in the small garden on Syntagma Square. Members of anarchist organizations did not allow television cameras to approach while in skirmishes with police. Foreign media teams from around the world who had hired rooms on higher floors turned to the Parliament to follow the protest away from the angry crowd and the tear gas.

It has become clear that this will not be the last mass protest. Active participants in the strike have promised new initiatives in Athens soon.