Greece go-ahead for renewed austerity as violent protests erupt
ATHENS — Greece’s government secured parliamentary approval on Thursday for a new batch of creditor-demanded measures that will impose further income losses on austerity-weary Greeks over the next three years but pave the way for a modest debt relief deal.
The legislation was backed by all 153 deputies in Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ leftled coalition. All 128 present in the 300-member Parliament stood against the measures in a vote just before midnight.
The vote was a key requirement for Greece’ s European creditors to release a new bailout installment, without which the country would struggle to meet its debt servicing obligations in July.
But it will also accelerate negotiations on easing Greece’s debt repayment terms, which Athens hopes could be concluded as early as next week at a meeting of European finance ministers.
“Now the ball is in our creditors’ court,” Tsipras said after the vote. “We expect, and are entitled to, a decision at Monday’s meeting, that will adjust the Greek public debt in a way that matches the Greek people’s sacrifices.”
Earlier on Thursday, about 15,000 people protested peacefully against the cutbacks in a second day of demonstrations outside Parliament. The demonstrations were called by major trade unions, a day after a general strike disrupted services across the country.
Dozens of masked youths broke out of the crowd to throw gasoline bombs at police guarding approaches to the parliament building. They were repulsed with tear gas, and police said one man was arrested and two more detained on suspicion of taking part in the violence.
Anger
The cutbacks, worth some $5.45 billion, will be implemented through 2020 a year beyond the mandate of Tsipras’ government. The bulk of the measures involve a sharp reduction in the income tax-free threshold and further cuts in pensions.
On Thursday morning, hundreds of pensioners braving heavy rain marched to Parliament to express their anger.
“No more tax theft,” they chanted.
Pensions have been cut sharply over the past seven years as successive Greek governments have slashed spending in return for bailout money to avoid bankruptcy.