In what is shaping up to be a clash between the entire labour movement and the Greek government, thousands took to the streets today to march and protest against prime minister Giorgos Papendreou's new economic package which sees widespread cuts in public sector services, tax increases and pay cuts for civil servants. Thessaloniki, Greece. 05/03/2010
In today's marches organised by the PAME trade union confederation, demonstrators shouted “Give us back our stolen money” a reference to the widerspread belief that much of the country's 300 billion euro debt as been pocketed by mainstream politicians and those with close economic ties to Greece's two main ruling parties, New Democracy and PASOK which have governed since 1974.
Riot police used tear gas and pepper spray when protesters belonging to a coalition of left wing parties and groups attempted to bring down the main gate at the entrance to the ex – ministry of Macedonia and Thrace in the northern port city of Thessaloniki. About a dozen of the demonstrators managed to enter the ground of the government building to stage a symbolic occupation.
