Greek Parliament Passed Bankers Dictatorship

May 7, 2010 (LPAC)—The Greek Parliament passed the European Union-mandated, brutal austerity package that will reduce Greek living standards by 20%, in order to save the Eurozone banks. Not only is the austerity politically unsustainable, but the bailout will not save the euro system that has already collapsed. The vote took place a day after some 200,000 people demonstrated against the policy in Athens; three people were killed in the course of the protests. While the deputies were voting, thousands of people gathered outside to protest the measures.

The government rejected a motion by the opposition for the measure to require a two-thirds majority in the 300-seat, unicameral Parliament, and the bill ended up being passed 172-121. Three deputies from the ruling PASOK party, which holds 160 seats, abstained. By contrast, some right-wing opposition members supported the bill, which most of the opposition deputies, including the conservative New Democracy, the Communist Party, and the Coalition of the Radical Left, voted against. The only member of the New Democracy party, which has 90 seats, to vote for the bill was former Foreign Minister Dora Bakoyiannis, who was immediately expelled by the party's leader, Antonis Samaras.

Prime Minister George Papandreou expelled the three deputies who abstained, rather than vote up the measure, kicking them out of his Socialist Party parliamentary group, thus reducing his majority to 157.

The vote demonstrated that there is no consensus in Parliament for such a brutal bill, and with cracks now appearing in the PASOK, the Papandreou government's days are numbered.

The trade unions are expected to hold more demonstrations next week.

WEBCAST MAY 8

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