Property sell-off protests: Anger grows as e-auctions begin in Greece

Protesters scuffle with police guarding the entrance of a public notary’s office in Athens as they try to stop an ongoing property auction.

They were opposing the auction of foreclosed properties, a key demand of Greece’s international bailout loan programme, which expires this year.

Campaigners have repeatedly disrupted the auctions at courts, causing notaries to stay away due to safety concerns, and have recently staged demonstrations outside notary offices since the auctions became electronic yesterday. E-actions are being used by the government to try to deter further protests.

More than 2,000 protesters from the Greek Communist Party labour union took part in a rally in the city centre.