(28 Jun 2011) HEADLINE: Raw Video: Union members protest in Greece
CAPTION: About 5,000 pro-communist union members marched through Athens to protest the government's fiscal austerity policies and plans to sell off state enterprises. Greece's belt-tightening has cut salaries and pensions to stem the country's ballooning debt. (June 18)
STORYLINE:
The head of Greece's communist party said on Saturday that the struggle against austerity will continue and that the recent government reshuffle will bear no changes to protesters' efforts.
"They want to fool the people. The people cannot be fooled. They, along with the creditors, have decided to skin the Greek people alive. No resting easy. No illusions. The struggle will continue until the end," said Aleka Papariga.
About 5,000 pro-communist union members marched through central Athens to protest the government's fiscal austerity policies and plans to sell off state enterprises.
This is the latest in what have become almost daily protests against a policy of belt-tightening that has significantly cut salaries and pensions in an attempt to stem Greece's ballooning debt.
Unsettled by dissent within his own ruling socialists, Greek Prime Minister Giorgos Papandreou on Friday ousted his finance minister and appointed his main party rival, Evangelos Venizelos, as the new finance minister.
Venizelos will face his European colleagues for the first time on Sunday at a Eurogroup meeting that is set to approve the fifth instalment of a 110 (b) billion Euro (155 (b) billion US Dollar) bailout package approved last year.
A Greek default could set off an unpredictable chain reaction that could hurt European banks, roil markets and make it harder for other indebted countries to cope with their debts, hiking borrowing costs for eurozone countries.
Germany, fearing that Greece would soon default, calmed market fears on Friday by retreating from its stance that banks and other private lenders should share the pain of a second bailout for Greece.
APTN STORY NUMBER: 693593
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