Turkish opposition leader protested in northern Greece

Protesters shout slogans during a rally against the visit of leader of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahçeli in Thessaloniki on June 28, 2012. 

Πηγή: Todays Zaman
June 28 2012

Scuffles broke out in Greece's second largest city between police and protesting Greek Cypriot students during the visit to the city of a far-right Turkish politician.


Devlet Bahçeli, head of Turkey's Nationalist Movement Party (MHP), visited Thessaloniki Thursday as part of a tour of northern Greece, where Greece's sizeable Muslim minority mainly lives. About 60 Greek Cypriots affiliated to a student movement stood outside the Turkish Consulate in Thessaloniki to protest, and scuffled with police who dispersed them using pepper spray.

Greece announces new property tax

Riot police stay next to a fire set by protesters during a demo in Thessaloniki on Saturday Sept. 10, 2011.

Πηγή: AP
By NICHOLAS PAPHITIS

Sep 11 2011

Thousands of angry Greeks, from unionists fed up with some 20 months of austerity to local soccer fans, have called a series of protests in the country's second-largest city, ahead of an annual speech on the economy by Prime Minister George Papandreou.

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) -- Greece's cash-strapped government said Sunday that it would impose a new property tax on top of existing austerity measures in order to combat a revenue shortfall.

The government also decided, in a symbolic move aimed at a public angry at politicians, to dock a month's pay from all elected central and local government officials.

Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos said the tax will be levied over the next two years and will cost citizens an average of euro4 ($5.53) per square meter (10.76 sq. feet).

Debt-crippled Greece urgently needs to keep a program of cutbacks on track to secure the continued flow of international rescue loans - worth euro219 billion ($302.6 billion) - protecting it from catastrophic bankruptcy.

Over the past 20 months, the Socialist government has cut pensions and salaries while raising taxes and retirement ages. But its efforts to cut back while reviving a fast-contracting economy amid record unemployment have faltered, sparking new market distress.

Speaking after a three-hour cabinet meeting in Greece's second-largest city of Thessaloniki, Venizelos said the new property levy - in addition to public sector reforms announced last week - will make up for lagging revenues this year by providing more than euro2 billion ($2.76 billion), about 1 percent of annual gross domestic product.

Venizelos added that top Greek officials from the head of state to senior ministry executives will lose one month's pay.

"The levy and the reforms are enough for us to pull through, but that also depends on the response of Greek society," he said. "It will be sufficient for us to achieve our targets."

Venizelos added that, if the measures work, Greece can expect a 2012 budget deficit of euro17.1 billion, about 8 percent of GDP, higher than the previously predicted 7.6 percent.

He warned, however, that the economy was expected to shrink at an even faster pace than expected, contracting 5.3 percent in 2011.

On Saturday, Prime Minister George Papandreou, in a keynote speech on the economy in Thessaloniki, pledged to meet fiscal targets despite the economic slowdown.

As the prime minister spoke, riots raged on the streets outside during an anti-austerity protest by some 25,000 people. Police arrested nine suspected rioters, while nine officers and 10 demonstrators were injured.

Thessaloniki Under Siege

Πηγή: From a Greek Anlge
Sep. 10 2011

The 76th Thessaloniki International Fair (9 – 18 September 2011) will definitely “make history”.

The first demonstration took place already today when members of the Communist led PAME took over the Town Hall just before the Prime Minister’s arrival there. They left peacefully having shouted anti-government slogans during Mr. Papandreou’s arrival.

The Greek Workers’ Confederation has rented a train to take protesters from Athens to Thessaloniki.

Tomorrow’s official opening of the Fair will be marked by the following protests:

The General Confederations of Greek Workers of both the public and private sectors meet at the Venizelos statue at 6 pm.

The PAME, PASY and Popular Alliance meet in Aristotelous Square at 6pm

Several Unions, left wing movements not represented in Parliament and antiexousiastes meet at the Kamara at 5pm.

Fans of the Herakles football club meet at Katsanio at 6pm

The taxi owners meet at the Ivanofio at 6pm

The students meet at the Thessaloniki Polytechnic school at 6 pm

The “enraged movement” has three different meeting points at three pm while the motorcyclists meet at 5 pm.

The Greek government had to make several adjustments to deal with the situation. For the first time in years the Prime Minister will not attend the opening ceremony which will be carried out by Mr. Mihalis Chryssohoidis, Minister of Regional development, competitiveness and shipping at 9.30 am on Saturday morning.

On Sunday, the annual Prime Minister’s press conference will be given from a renovated storehouse in the Thessaloniki port instead of the customary venue of the Velidion Conference Center.

The Greek government has mobilized more than 7.000 special force men to “protect” the peace in the northern capital.