Greek Police Fire Teargas as Tempers Flare Over Pensions

Scuffles broke out during a mass rally in Athens protesting pension reforms needed to meet demands of the EU.

Scuffles broke out and police used teargas during a mass rally in Athens on Thursday as Greeks railed against government pension reforms needed to meet demands of international creditors. Demanding an end to austerity, about 50,000 Greeks marched to parliament in central Athens.

Breaking away from the main block of demonstrators, black-clad youths hurled stones and petrol bombs at the police, who responded with rounds of teargas and stun grenades, witnesses said. The angry backlash is piling pressure on Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, first elected just over a year ago.

With just a three-seat majority in parliament, he is stuck between either pushing the reforms through to appease international creditors, or attracting the wrath of thousands of Greeks.

They should be strung up here, in Syntagma Square. I’m getting 740 euros ($826.21) a month for 40 years of work ... I’m (demonstrating) here for my children and grandchildren. 

Nikos Ghinis, Pensioner

Dozens of domestic flights were grounded, ferries remained docked in ports and most public transport was paralysed as part of the strike organised by Greece’s main labour unions, private sector union GSEE and public sector union ADEDY. It was the second nationwide walkout since Tsipras took power in January 2015 on a pledge to end years of austerity, only to cave in under the threat of expulsion from the euro zone and sign up to new belt-tightening reforms under an EU-IMF bailout package worth up to 86 billion euros.

The 24-hour strike coincides with a major review of Greece’s performance on terms of its bailout.

The government wants to conclude the review swiftly to start talks on debt relief and convince Greeks that their sacrifices are paying off despite the unemployment rate rising to 25 percent. Greece must cut pension spending by 1 percent of GDP, or 1.8 billion euros, this year.

We will reach a stage where we won’t be able to make ends meet unless we steal from the state, hide income. 

George Stathopoulos, Demonstrator

Under the terms of pension reform, their social security contributions will increase almost threefold in coming years.