The Greeks rallied in Athens in protest of austerity measures.
Orwellian UK BANNED Press TV: The protesters gathered outside the Greek parliament in central Athens on Saturday, calling for political and economic reforms as well as pay rises and more job opportunities.
The massive rally was organized by trade union, PAME, with dozens of other unions participating to condemn the austerity policies of the government.
The Saturday demonstration is the latest rally in a series of similar anti-austerity protests in Greece over the past months. The protest comes as the Greek government is preparing for its final bailout inspection ahead of receiving loan installments from other eurozone countries.
The draconian terms of the EU 'bailout' agreements have already taken their toll on ordinary Greeks, causing anger and fear among the public.
Conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has promised to ease the terms of the agreements and pull the debt-stricken country out of recession.
In 2008, a recession hit Greece’s economy, which has shrunk by more than a quarter. Greek economic woes have been exacerbated by the waves of austerity measures imposed by international banksters.
Athens has been required by international lenders - the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - to undertake certain measures in exchange for bailout loans totaling 240 billion euros.
The country has been at the epicenter of the eurozone debt crisis and has so far experienced six years of recession.
Source
“If the Spanish state does not negotiate, that will make it impossible for the Catalan economy to shoulder the debt and Spain will enter into default,” Oriol Junqueras, the leader of the Catalan Republican Left Party, said in an interview with Spanish daily, El Pais, on Saturday.
Junqueras made the remarks just days before a planned referendum slated to be held on November 9.
According to the Spanish central bank’s figures for the second quarter of 2014, Catalonia’s debt is about 62 billion euros ($78 billion), which amounts to some six percent of Spain’s total debt.
Catalonia’s President Artur Mas is struggling to organize the symbolic independence vote on whether Catalonia should break away from the rest of the European country, while Madrid has announced plans to challenge the vote.
Spain’s national government said on Friday that it was launching an appeal at the Constitutional Court against the upcoming vote.
Mas was quick to announce that the regional Catalan government would take legal action against the Spanish government.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy argues that Catalonia’s independence bid disrespects “democratic conditions.”
If the symbolic referendum is held, a “Yes” vote will not automatically lead to the secession of the region but only gives the Catalan president the mandate to negotiate independence with the Spanish administration.
The wealthy northeastern region of Spain has a population of 7.6 million people, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the country’s economy, and has been seeking independence for years.
Source
The massive rally was organized by trade union, PAME, with dozens of other unions participating to condemn the austerity policies of the government.
The Saturday demonstration is the latest rally in a series of similar anti-austerity protests in Greece over the past months. The protest comes as the Greek government is preparing for its final bailout inspection ahead of receiving loan installments from other eurozone countries.
The draconian terms of the EU 'bailout' agreements have already taken their toll on ordinary Greeks, causing anger and fear among the public.
Conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has promised to ease the terms of the agreements and pull the debt-stricken country out of recession.
In 2008, a recession hit Greece’s economy, which has shrunk by more than a quarter. Greek economic woes have been exacerbated by the waves of austerity measures imposed by international banksters.
Athens has been required by international lenders - the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund - to undertake certain measures in exchange for bailout loans totaling 240 billion euros.
The country has been at the epicenter of the eurozone debt crisis and has so far experienced six years of recession.
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Independence or Default - Catalonia Won't Pay!
Orwellian UK BANNED Press TV: A prominent Catalan politician has warned Spain that the wealthy region could drive the central government to default on its debts if it refuses to discuss the region’s vote on independence.“If the Spanish state does not negotiate, that will make it impossible for the Catalan economy to shoulder the debt and Spain will enter into default,” Oriol Junqueras, the leader of the Catalan Republican Left Party, said in an interview with Spanish daily, El Pais, on Saturday.
Junqueras made the remarks just days before a planned referendum slated to be held on November 9.
According to the Spanish central bank’s figures for the second quarter of 2014, Catalonia’s debt is about 62 billion euros ($78 billion), which amounts to some six percent of Spain’s total debt.
Catalonia’s President Artur Mas is struggling to organize the symbolic independence vote on whether Catalonia should break away from the rest of the European country, while Madrid has announced plans to challenge the vote.
Spain’s national government said on Friday that it was launching an appeal at the Constitutional Court against the upcoming vote.
Mas was quick to announce that the regional Catalan government would take legal action against the Spanish government.
Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy argues that Catalonia’s independence bid disrespects “democratic conditions.”
If the symbolic referendum is held, a “Yes” vote will not automatically lead to the secession of the region but only gives the Catalan president the mandate to negotiate independence with the Spanish administration.
The wealthy northeastern region of Spain has a population of 7.6 million people, accounting for nearly one-fifth of the country’s economy, and has been seeking independence for years.
Source
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