Protests in Greece 2010–2012

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On May 5, 2010, a general strike and nationwide demonstrations took place in major cities in Greece . The protests have been sparked by plans to cut public spending, such as cuts in wages and benefits as austerity measures in return for a € 110 billion bailout package designed to solve the Greek debt crisis that emerged in 2010 . Three people were killed in the May 5 protests, the largest since the massive demonstrations that led to the fall of the dictatorship in 1974.

On May 25, 2011, the Outraged Citizens Movement (Greek: Κίνημα Αγανακτισμένων Πολιτών), also known as the Greek Revolution , began to demonstrate in many cities across the country. This second wave of mass demonstrations differs radically from the demonstrations in May 2010 in that they are neither organized by a political party nor support a specific party. In the beginning the protests were peaceful. Following the protests in Spain in 2011/2012 , these demonstrations were organized entirely on social networks, which is why they were nicknamed Facebook May . Later the protests became violent.

Numerous observers asked whether the protests in Greece were part of a Europe-wide networked protest movement and whether they were inspired by the events of the Arab Spring . There was talk of a pan-European movement of the "indignant".

Background to the 2010 protest

Greece's economy was strong in the mid-2000s and the government took advantage of it by running a large budget deficit . When the global economy cooled in the late 2000s, Greece was hit particularly hard because its major industries - transportation and tourism - were particularly sensitive to changes in the economic cycle. As a result, the country's debt grew rapidly. In the spring of 2010, as Greece's national debt increased, policymakers indicated that an emergency bailout may be needed.

On March 5, 2010, the Greek parliament passed a cost-reducing package of laws to protect the economy. On April 23, the Greek government requested the activation of a rescue package offered by the European Union and the International Monetary Fund . The funds were expected to become available quickly, but it was unclear whether they would be activated before a crucial rescheduling on May 19. On April 27th, Standard & Poor’s upgraded the country 's debt rating to BB + (rated "junk" status), raising concerns that this rating could become the standard.

Austerity measures

Greek Prime Minister Giorgos Papandreou announced on May 1 a fourth series of austerity measures by the Greek government, which have been described as "unprecedented". These include more wage cuts in the public sector, pension cuts, new taxes on corporate profits, an increase in luxury and luxury goods taxes and an increase in VAT.

The proposed changes, which are expected to save 30 billion euros by 2012, represent the largest government reform in a generation. The savings are in line with the EU-IMF loan proposals, which called for the liberalization of Greece's economy, and which the country was introduced to on Jan. May helped secure an immediate € 45 billion loan, largely from the EU at 5% interest and additional future funding. The total value of the loans is expected to be in the range of 110 billion euros. On May 4th Papandreou presented the bill to parliament.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Protests in Greece as a reaction to massive austerity measures ( Memento from August 1, 2012 in the web archive archive.today )
  2. ^ Gerd Höhler: Greece: Protests paralyze the country. In: Handelsblatt . December 14, 2010, accessed June 11, 2015 .
  3. ↑ https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/griechenland644.html
  4. ↑ http://www.voanews.com/greek/news/Europe-Protests-122808254.html
  5. ↑ Corinna Jessen: Riot in the dead end. In: Berliner Zeitung . June 8, 2011, accessed June 11, 2015 .
  6. ↑ http://www.ethnos.gr/article.asp?catid=22768&subid=2&pubid=63092999
  7. ↑ Street battles in front of Parliament. In: Focus Online. Retrieved June 11, 2015 .
  8. ↑ Violent protests in Athens (photo gallery). In: Frankfurter Rundschau . Archived from the original on October 24, 2012 ; accessed on June 11, 2015 .
  9. ↑ http://www.dradio.de/dlf/sendung/europaheute/1467249/
  10. ↑ Thomas Frankenfeld: Europe's south exercises the permanent protest. In: Hamburger Abendblatt . May 31, 2011, accessed June 11, 2015 .
  11. ↑ Javier Cáceres and Stefan Ulrich: The youth storm the Bastille. In: Süddeutsche Zeitung . May 31, 2011, accessed June 11, 2015 .
  12. ↑ Archived copy ( Memento from June 20, 2011 in the Internet Archive )
  13. ^ Mathieu von Rohr and Helene Zuber: The Rage of the 'Indignants': A European Generation Takes to the Streets. In: Der Spiegel . June 7, 2011, accessed June 11, 2015 .
  14. ↑ http://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/2572/1/32918962X.pdf
  15. ↑ https://www.tagesschau.de/wirtschaft/griechenland1040.html
  16. ↑ http://www.ftd.de/politik/europa/:hilfe-fuer-eu-land-berlin-will-griechenland-retten/50071966.html ( Memento from February 11, 2010 in the Internet Archive )
  17. ↑ http://www.oe24.at/welt/Griechenland-verendunget-Sparpaket/768583
  18. ^ Greeks ask for a rescue package ( Memento from April 25, 2010 in the Internet Archive ), Kleine Zeitung April 23, 2010
  19. ↑ http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,5540925,00.html
  20. ^ Greece: austerity package decided. List of horrors. In: Süddeutsche Zeitung . May 31, 2010, accessed June 11, 2015 .
  21. ^ Taxes Greece - Special measures to combat the financial crisis. Blog Rechtsswanwalt-griechenland.de from March 26, 2010. Retrieved on June 12, 2015.

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