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Greece debt crisis: PM Alexis Tsipras faces make-or-break vote to agree unpopular austerity measures after day of strikes and protests Greece debt crisis: PM Alexis Tsipras faces make-or-break vote to agree unpopular austerity measures after day of strikes and protests
(about 3 hours later)
Greece is bracing itself for unprecedented civil unrest as the nation’s parliament seemed set to choose drastic and unpopular austerity measures in return for loans that may, or may not, save the country from bankruptcy. Greece is bracing itself for serious civil unrest as the nation’s parliament choose drastic and unpopular austerity measures in return for loans that may, or may not, save the country from bankruptcy.
The International Monetary Fund’s shock admission that Greece cannot ever hope to repay its debts fuelled public anger. People took to the streets after strikes and protests earlier in the day closed metro stations, brought traffic to a standstill and led to the deployment of riot police. The International Monetary Fund’s shock admission that Greece could not hope to repay its debts fuelled public anger, and earlier in the day strikes and protests closed metro stations and brought  traffic to a standstill.
The sense of unease was heightened when Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras claimed that the bailout he negotiated on Greece’s behalf was a deal he did “not believe in”. But as MPs prepared to vote, anarchist protesters outside the parliament building hurled rocks and petrol bombs at riot police who responded with tear gas.
Ahead of the crucial vote late, huge crowds formed outside parliament to protest. The Eurogroup will meet on Thursday to review whether what parliament decides is sufficient to merit the payment of a €12bn bridging loan to keep Greek banks operating. The sense of crisis had been heightened by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras claiming the bailout he negotiated on Greece’s behalf was a deal he did “not believe in”.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras leaves his office at the Maximos Mansion in Athens on Wednesday (Reuters) Hard-line Syriza MPs were aiming to form a larger than expected rebellion that could force Mr Tsipras from power. “If I don’t have your support [in tonight’s vote] it will be hard for me to remain as PM,” the Prime Minister was reported to have told fellow MPs. Once news emerged shortly before midnight that Mr Tsipras had succeeded in gaining parliamentary approval for austerity measures he had condemned only weeks earlier, tensions rose again among the thousands outside in Syntagma Square.
But observers believe the Greek parliament will pass austerity proposals such as tax rises and labour reforms. The Eurogroup will meet on Thursday to review whether the  parliamentary approval of the bailout is sufficient to merit the payment of a €12bn loan to keep Greek banks afloat.
The political writer Christos Michaelides said: “I think they will get the vote through because of the help from the other parties. A ‘yes’ vote will pass the ball back to Brussels. If they back Tsipras no one in Brussels will be able to say that Tsipras can’t be trusted.” Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras leaves his office at the Maximos Mansion in Athens on Wednesday (Reuters) Hard-line MPs in Mr Tsipra’s Syriza party were aiming to mount a rebellion large enough to force the Prime Minister from power. “If I don’t have your support [in tonight’s vote] it will be hard for me to remain as PM,” Mr Tsipras was reported to have told fellow MPs.
But Syriza’s difficult position was underlined when Deputy Finance Minister Nadia Valavani quit her post because she could not support the bailout deal. But as predicted his coalition government was able to rely on the support of mainstream parties to get the raft of tax hikes, labour reforms and privatisation measures through parliament before the midnight deadline as its creditors required.
Another prominent left- winger, former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, was reportedly booed by some colleagues when he appeared in parliament. Sources told The Independent that an earlier meeting of Syriza’s 200 central committee members was “split down the middle” on whether to back Mr Tsipras. Ahead of the vote, political writer Christos Michaelides, predicted that Mr Tsipras would win and greatly strengthen his hand in Europe. “A ‘yes’ vote will pass the ball back to Brussels. If they back Tsipras no one in Brussels will be able to say that Tsipras can’t be trusted,” he said.
But Mr Tsipras’s domestic perils were underlined when Deputy Finance Minister Nadia Valavani quit her post because she could not support the bailout deal.
Another prominent left-winger, former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, was reportedly booed by some colleagues when he appeared in parliament. Sources told The Independent that an earlier meeting of Syriza’s 200 central committee members was “split down the middle” on whether to back Mr Tsipras.
Syriza has 149 out of 300 parliamentary seats and relies on an unlikely deal with the right-wing Independent Greeks party, which has 13 MPs, to give it a majority.Syriza has 149 out of 300 parliamentary seats and relies on an unlikely deal with the right-wing Independent Greeks party, which has 13 MPs, to give it a majority.
But with up to 30 MPs on the left of Mr Tsipras’s party expected to vote against the measures, he was set to have to rely on the support from the centre-right party New Democracy and the old centre-left group Pasok. But with up to 30 MPs on the left of Mr Tsipras’s party expected to vote against the measures, he had to rely on the support from the centre-right party New Democracy and the old centre-left group Pasok. And many believe that a new coalition or even snap elections may occur in the coming months.
As thousands massed outside parliament, riot police prepared for attacks by extremists and anarchist groups after tip-offs that state buildings would be targeted. As thousands massed outside parliament, before the vote, riot police had prepared for attacks by extremists and anarchist groups.
Police were also guarding the Syriza party headquarters a mile away in Athens. The building was occupied by protesters in March.Police were also guarding the Syriza party headquarters a mile away in Athens. The building was occupied by protesters in March.
Mr Michaelides said the “silent majority” of Greeks, not represented in Parliament Square, were resigned to more austerity. “Ironically, many of these are the people who are not Tsipras supporters, but who see that failure to support the deal would lead to something worse,” he said. Mr Michaelides said the “silent majority” of Greeks, not represented in Parliament Square, were resigned to more austerity.
“Ironically, many of these are the people who are not Tsipras supporters, but who see that failure to support the deal would lead to something worse,” he said.
Riot police detain an anti-austerity protester in Athens on Wednesday night (AP) However, outside parliament, teacher Nikos Kourakis, 46, said he opposed all the reforms. “Why should the shops open on Sundays? Who will go to them apart from tourists? If this deal goes through there will be trouble on the streets – violence maybe, though not by us.”Riot police detain an anti-austerity protester in Athens on Wednesday night (AP) However, outside parliament, teacher Nikos Kourakis, 46, said he opposed all the reforms. “Why should the shops open on Sundays? Who will go to them apart from tourists? If this deal goes through there will be trouble on the streets – violence maybe, though not by us.”
Civil servant Ireni, who would not give her second name, said: “We’re striking and protesting for better conditions and for our children.”Civil servant Ireni, who would not give her second name, said: “We’re striking and protesting for better conditions and for our children.”
But some people not protesting were more pragmatic. Dimitris Angelopoulos, 28, working in a nearby kiosk, said: “I think it’s good that the shops will open more, though more tax is not good.”But some people not protesting were more pragmatic. Dimitris Angelopoulos, 28, working in a nearby kiosk, said: “I think it’s good that the shops will open more, though more tax is not good.”
Economist George Tsarouchas of the Athens University of Economics and Business, hailed the labour market reforms but attacked the new austerity measures.Economist George Tsarouchas of the Athens University of Economics and Business, hailed the labour market reforms but attacked the new austerity measures.
“Without the reforms we cannot attract the new investment we need,” he said.“Without the reforms we cannot attract the new investment we need,” he said.
“The government needs to totally restructure the public sector, otherwise there’s no way that Greece can get out of this mess. “The government needs to totally restructure the public sector, otherwise there’s no way out of this mess.
“But there is a real need for debt restructuring. Europe is not ready for that and that is a major problem. More austerity is a disaster.”“But there is a real need for debt restructuring. Europe is not ready for that and that is a major problem. More austerity is a disaster.”
Anti-austerity protesters clash with riot police during a rally in Athens (AP) Ashoka Mody, the former assistant director of the IMF’s European Department, repeated the organisation’s call for debt relief or restructuring. “This is the Greek tragedy. Like this no one is going to win,” he said. Anti-austerity protesters clash with riot police during a rally in Athens (AP) Ashoka Mody, the former assistant director of the IMF’s European Department, repeated the organisation’s call for debt relief or restructuring. “This is the Greek tragedy. Like this, no one is going to win,” he said.
Civil servants and transports workers were not the only ones striking. But industrial action by pharmacists – one of the closed castes which Mr Tsipras is under pressure to crack open – passed virtually unnoticed. Civil servants and transports workers were not the only ones striking. But industrial action by pharmacists – one of the closed castes that Mr Tsipras is under pressure to crack open – passed virtually unnoticed.
“I think this indicated that people know that things have got to change,” said Antigone Lyberaki, an MP in the reformist To Potami party, which had pledged to vote for the new bailout package. There was more sympathy for the striking doctors, whose salaries have collapsed. “They have every right to strike because their salaries have dwindled to humiliating levels,” said commentator Philip Chrysopoulos.
There was more sympathy for the striking doctors, whose salaries have collapsed. “They have every right to strike because their salaries have dwindled to humiliating levels. And there’s very few of them left,” said commentator Philip Chrysopoulos. “Unions in Greece are very political,” said economics lecturer, Platon Tinios.
One Athens GP, Dr Macianthi Pamidou said that some colleagues had not been paid since January. Others suggested that a raft of political strikes would hit the city in the coming weeks. “We’re going to see a lot more strikes. But the thing is, they will be posturing. The economy is so dead already, I’m not sure that strikes will make that much difference.”
“Unions in Greece are very political,” said economics lecturer Platon Tinios. “If the communist wing pulls the plug on Syriza – and it looks like it will – then we’re are going to see a lot more strikes.
“But the thing is, they will be posturing. The economy is so dead already, I’m not sure that strikes will make that much difference.”