Anger over austerity: Third day of rallies in Greece over pensions and tax reforms

[webfact]

Anger over austerity: Third day of rallies in Greece over pensions and tax reforms
By Joanna Gill | With APOSTOLOS STAIKOS, REUTERS, THE ECONOMIST



"We can not live in the 21st century with 19th century working conditions"

ATHENS: -- The Greek capital saw a third day of rallies as the parliament prepared to vote on a series of reforms including tax hikes and pension cuts. Athens is hoping to push through the reforms required by the international creditors ahead of crunch talks on Monday.

Greece’s largest trade union General Confederation of Greek Workers (GSEE) called the measures ‘the last nail in the coffin’ for workers and pensioners already squeezed by six years of austerity.

“They are trying to prove to the Eurogroup that they are good students but they are destroying Greece’s social security system,” a GSEE official said.

At the rally, unemployed teacher Liana Korobili (37) explained that the young are without “social benefits, health care, decent salaries and most of us, not even a job,” adding, “We can not live like this. We can not live in the 21st century with 19th century working conditions.”

“If my parents face further cuts on their wages and pensions, I don ‘t know how we will survive. Most of my friends come from poor families and we can hardly cover our basic needs.”

The proposed tax reforms would lower the income tax-free threshold to 8,363 euros, going back on previous pledges that it wouldn’t pass the ‘red line’ of 9,100 euros.

Athens has been told to cut its annual pension bill – one of the eurozone’s most expensive – by 1.3 billion euros. Greece has almost 2.7 million pensioners and a working population of 3.7 million. The average gross pension is 960 euros per month. The proposed legislation would cut higher levels of pensions by up to 40 percent. Defending the measures, the prime minister said that the overhaul was needed to prevent the pension system from collapsing and would spare the poorest. Since 2010, the pension entitlements have been cut ten times. Greeks blame their politicians, who point the finger at their international creditors.

Apostolos Staikos, for euronews Athens explains.

The government talks about a necessary pension reform, but workers argue that, in a few years, pensions will look like tips. In the eyes of the people, SYRIZA is taking the path of austerity. A policy followed by all governments who came before them.

The package of measures is worth around 5.4 billion euros asked for by creditors. The SYRIZA-led coalition has a slim majority of just three seats in the 300-member parliament.

-- (c) Copyright Euronews 2016-05-09

[OMGImInPattaya]

Greece is in the 21st century?

[shirtless]

Greeks need to learn you cant spend more than you earn forever, without consequences.

[trogers]

Greeks need to learn you cant spend more than you earn forever, without consequences.

They thought they could. That's the reason for joining the Eurozone...

[sanukjim]

Imagine this ,A rally over pensions and tax reform in a country that has very little people that are actually willing to work and 90% of income is not declared for any taxes.Come on EU Greece is waiting for the next free hand out.

Edited May 9, 2016 by sanukjim

[little mary sunshine]

Lazy fat Greeks want to collect a pension at 50

Years old..unbelievable, no wonder the Country

Has gone to hell. Work until your 62-67 like the

Americans. Than retire... Cry like a baby that

You don't have money, but to lazy to work for it,

Now let's all go into the streets and protest and

Get all of Europe to give us more money.,.,

[ilostmypassword]

Everybody here is upset with the Greeks. What about the banks that lent them the money? Really the so called rescue of Greece was really a rescue of those banks. The banks did take a mild haircut but they should have lost almost everything. Instead it's the European taxpayers who will ultimately foot the bill because, as the IMF and other realists know, there is no way Greece could ever repay the full amount of their current debt.

[alofthailand]

They have wealth -land - gold - natural resources but refuse to pay taxes or sell land or cooperate in anyway Real losers!

[wabothai]

I think for their own good they would have to leave the EU. I hope others follow.

[Baerboxer]

They have wealth -land - gold - natural resources but refuse to pay taxes or sell land or cooperate in anyway Real losers!

They have had it easy for a long long time and so simply do not want to change.

The arrogance is astounding. They expect the rest of EU to simply give them money, write off loans, so they can carry on living the life of Riley.

They refuse to accept reality and there perceived reality is much nicer for them. Only they can't and don't want to pay for it.

Should be expelled from the EU for falsifying their financials and gaining entry through fraud. Let them see of the Russians will fund their lazy lifestyle or the Chinese. They've leached off the EU for too long.

[SgtRock]

Both Greece and the EU are responsible for the plight of Greece, for differing reasons.

Whilst the easy answer would be to kick Greece out of the EU and the euro, it is not going to happen.

There is no way that the EU will risk a chain reaction.

The talks aimed for this week, the EU tried to postpone until after the UK referendum, it was only pressure from the IMF that this did not happen.

[ilostmypassword]

They have wealth -land - gold - natural resources but refuse to pay taxes or sell land or cooperate in anyway Real losers!

They have had it easy for a long long time and so simply do not want to change.

The arrogance is astounding. They expect the rest of EU to simply give them money, write off loans, so they can carry on living the life of Riley.

They refuse to accept reality and there perceived reality is much nicer for them. Only they can't and don't want to pay for it.

Should be expelled from the EU for falsifying their financials and gaining entry through fraud. Let them see of the Russians will fund their lazy lifestyle or the Chinese. They've leached off the EU for too long.

Again, this bailout was not about bailing out the Greeks. It was about bailing out the banks. The banks should have known better and should have lost their cash. Or at least been nationalized and had their assets sold. But instead it's the citizens of the Eurozone who are paying for it. What is so hard to understand about this?