DE-FAULT IS ALL GREECE'S

On Saturday (10th) the Greek PM George Papandreou was due to outline the government’s fiscal policy for the year during the Thessaloniki International Exhibition. This resulted in a plethora of demonstrations being called by groups such as the square movement, the socialist union PAME, trade unions GSEE, ADEDY, local football fans (whose team had been relegated due to financial difficulties) and yer protest happy black block.

On the actual day over 6,000 police were deployed in the city of Thessalonika. There were 32 people detained before demonstrations had even begun, numbers reached triple figures by the day’s end.

According to the Occupied London blog there were at least 10,000 people demonstrating across the city. Scuffles ensued throughout the day between protesters and police with tear gas always at the ready. In Athens 400 people had gathered in Syntagma square in solidarity with Thessaloniki. Police attacked the static demonstration, injuring 15 people in the process. Later on that evening two motorcycle cop units were attacked in the anarchist stronghold district of Exarcheia with Molotov cocktails and stones. The cost of policing amounted to over 2 million Euro (that is 1.74 million pounds to you and me).

School started for high school students across Greece on 12th. School books for each subject are meant to be distributed to students for free but this year thanks to the cuts books won’t be available until late November. The 50% reduction of public transport costs for students has been slashed to none. Political speeches have been banned from all high schools as the government fears further occupations. Meanwhile over 300 university departments are being occupied by students protesting against the new reform bill. The bill in question will privatise higher education, bring in tuition fees and introduce university managers.

The European Parliament gathered in Strasbourg for its chin wag session this Wednesday 14th. The EU commission made it clear it had “no intention of placing Greece under stewardship”, in plain non-politician speak that means “we are placing Greece under stewardship”.