Greece Follow

‘It looked like a war zone’ Jess Hurd, in Athens

The global elite is panicking that the crisis in Greece could destabilise the whole European economy.

A huge general strike in Greece has rocked the country’s government. Workers are furious at the government’s attempts today to force massive austerity measures through parliament.

The European Union’s plans for new bailout conditions for Greece, which will lead to even harsher austerity and privatisation, have sparked new protests.

Greece is still caught in the economic storm sweeping Europe following the arrest of International Monetary Fund (IMF) head Dominique Strauss-Kahn.

The European Union, the European Central Bank and the IMF agreed a 110 billion euro bailout for Greece last year.

Greek workers joined a general strike against austerity on Wednesday as their government tried to renegotiate the terms of its bailout.

Greece is being buffeted around in the financial markets as speculation grows that it will default on its huge debts.

Austerity doesn’t work. The Greeks tried it—and they are now in danger of defaulting on their loans. Portugal tried it—and it has now had to ask for a bailout of up to 80 billion euros.

Portugal has become the third EU country, after Greece and Ireland, to ask for a European bailout.

The eighth general strike against harsh austerity measures in less than 12 months hit Greece on Wednesday. It was as successful as the other strikes that have rocked the Pasok Labour-like government, despite the worsening of the economic situation and the length of time the struggle has been ongoing.