​‘Bankrupt but Free’: Greeks stage nationwide anti-austerity rallies

2015/02/11
Thousands of Greeks take part in a pro-government demonstration in front of the parliament in Athens February 11, 2015. (Reuters/Yannis Behrakis)

Standing in front of the parliament building in central Athens – the traditional place for public demonstrations – a peaceful crowd held placards with the slogans "Bankrupt but Free" and "Stop Austerity, Support Greece, Change Europe."


"In the cities of Greece and Europe the people are fighting the negotiation battle, They are our strength,” leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras tweeted along with a picture of the rally in Athens, which attracted at least 15,000.



Other large rallies took place in Kalamata, Thessaloniki, and Crete, with smaller solidarity demonstrations occurring in major European capitals.



At the same time, in Brussels, new Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis began a round of talks to adjust conditions of the $284 billion bailout, agreed by a previous government in 2012.


According to his recent statements, Varoufakis is looking to scrap about 30 percent of the conditions, which came attached with the previous loans. He is also seeking to secure an extension for further talks, funded by a loan that will allow the government to fulfill its obligations.




Greece, which has a poor record of tax collection and a large public sector, has said it will implement a set of reforms.


A recent poll said that 75 percent of all Greeks support the actions of Syriza since it assumed power as the dominant part of the coalition, following early elections on January 25.


Most EU officials were skeptical about agreeing to any deal on Wednesday, with German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble saying the talks would give a chance to demarcate “red lines.”



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