Revolution of ties

21 January 2016 / 20:01:05 GRReporter

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Photo: iefimerida.gr

The participants in the freelancers’ protest against the pension reform proposed by the Greek government took off their ties and hung them on one of the trees outside the parliament in Athens. That action of theirs was filled with symbolism in view of Alexis Tsipras and many of his ministers’ categorical refusal to wear this male accessory.

Tens of thousands of lawyers, engineers, doctors, pharmacists, accountants and other freelancers filled the centre of Athens in the second mass protest against the government's intentions to increase their insurance contributions in an attempt to strengthen the pension system.

Photo: INTIME NEWS/ Yannis Liakos

"All in the street to change the law," "Katrougalos (the family name of the Minister of Employment and Social Security - editor’s note), resign", "Katrougalos and Tsipras, listen well, this bill will remain on paper" were some of the slogans that lawyers chanted outside the Greek parliament.

During the procession, chairman of the union of private sector workers Yiannis Panagopoulos appeared in the ranks of the protesters. Those who were close to him objected to his presence with slogans. Someone threw a cup of coffee at his back and others tried to hit him on the head with a protest poster. Panagopoulos left the procession immediately afterwards.

Photo: SOOC

At the same time, farmers at the roadblocks at the Tembi pass and elsewhere in northern Greece are preparing intense protests and planning to interrupt the traffic on central thoroughfares.

By decision of the coordinating committee of the blockade, tomorrow the Tembi pass will be closed from 12:00 to 02:00 pm. Farmers will stop the traffic by standing on the road, but without tractors and other agricultural machines.

Their protest tomorrow is considered a warning, as it is expected that on Saturday they will decide on the coordinated actions of all roadblocks.

Farmers are demanding to meet with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and launch a dialogue on their taxation and pension rights from scratch as well as on all other problems of the sector.

Tractors at Promachonas, Photo: Eurokinissi

Farmers from Serres, who have been on the Greek-Bulgarian border since last Friday, have decided to block the traffic between 01:00 pm and 03:00 pm tomorrow. In their words, "depending on what happens to the other blockades in the country and especially on the will of the participants in the blockade," they will decide whether the blockade of the border will continue in the coming days.