Greece
The betrayal of the Greek teachers’ strike
By Chris Marsden, 18 May 2013
The decision by leaders of the OLME teachers union to abandon an agreed strike in the face of civil mobilisation orders has delivered a serious blow to the entire Greek working class.
Greek teachers defy military mobilisation orders
By Christoph Dreier, 16 May 2013
Greek teachers have voted to oppose the mobilisation order of the government and begin strike action on Friday.
Attacks on Greek teachers intensify
By Christoph Dreier, 15 May 2013
The public service trade union federation, ADEDY, has made clear that it will not mobilize public employees to defend the teachers.
Greek protests against ban on strikes
By Christoph Dreier, 14 May 2013
Greek police served 88,000 high school teachers with civil mobilization orders on Monday.
Greek government outlaws teachers strike
By Robert Stevens, 13 May 2013
The New Democracy, social democratic PASOK and Democratic Left coalition government signed a civil mobilisation order Saturday to outlaw a teachers strike, scheduled to begin on May 17.
IMF demands further austerity in Greece
By Robert Stevens, 10 May 2013
The IMF’s report follows the agreement made between the “troika” and the coalition government of New Democracy, PASOK and the Democratic Left last month.
Athens mayor bans fascist demonstration
By Christoph Dreier, 4 May 2013
Police intervened to prevent supporters of the Greek fascist party Golden Dawn from carrying out a food distribution in Athens’ Syntagma Square.
Greek unions hold one-day general strike
By Robert Stevens, 2 May 2013
Public transport ground to a halt in the capital Athens, with no train or ferry services operating.
More mass layoffs in Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 30 April 2013
The Greek parliament has voted to dismiss 15,500 public service workers and slash the minimum wage.
EU, Greek government plan more mass layoffs, privatisations
By Robert Stevens, 19 April 2013
Under terms agreed with the “troika” some 15,000 public sector workers will lose their jobs by the end of 2014, including 4,000 jobs this year.
Dozens of migrant farmworkers shot in Greece
By Chris Marsden, 19 April 2013
Thirty or more migrant workers have been wounded in a shooting on a strawberry farm in southern Greece. Eight of the workers remain in critical condition.
European Union demands more austerity in Greece
By Robert Stevens, 13 April 2013
Eurogroup head Jeroen Dijsselbloem has warned that Greece needed to “speed up its efforts” in order to comply with the troika’s austerity programme.
SYRIZA makes political pact with the nationalist right
By Christoph Dreier, 4 April 2013
The alliance with right-wing nationalists clearly shows SYRIZA’s class character.
Greek parliament overturns right to free, universal education
By Robert Stevens, 2 April 2013
The cynically-named Athena Plan, calling for mass closures of universities and technical institutions, was passed in flagrant violation of the Greek constitution.
After Cyprus, more austerity in Greece
By Robert Stevens, 30 March 2013
Fresh from its financial looting of Cyprus, the European bourgeoisie is threatening to withhold funds from Greece unless it complies with mass sackings in the public sector.
SYRIZA leader Tsipras addresses the British pseudo-left
By Robert Stevens, 23 March 2013
Alexis Tsipras, the leader of Greece’s SYRIZA spoke in London at several events last week.
The right-wing threat in Greece
By Cristoph Dreier, 13 March 2013
Some 68 years after the end of Nazi rule in Europe, fascistic organizations are again part of official politics, and entire ethnic groups are deported and humiliated.
Greek government courts fascist Golden Dawn with anti-immigrant law
By Christoph Dreier, 11 March 2013
As the social crisis worsens in Greece, the ruling class is courting the fascist Golden Dawn group to help it suppress popular opposition.
Austerity demands provoke Greek government crisis
By Robert Stevens, 6 March 2013
The primary demand of the troika is that there be no retreat on plans to slash the number of civil service employees.
Greek military prepares for mass repression
By Robert Stevens, 2 March 2013
Politicians have been in contact with military personnel over how to respond to an “explosion” of social unrest against government austerity measures.
Social counterrevolution in Greece
By Robert Stevens, 25 February 2013
Mass unemployment exists in Greece, with many “working poor” unable to meet their basic needs.
Workers mount 24-hour national strike against social attacks in Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 21 February 2013
Tens of thousands of Greek workers went on strike on Wednesday to protest government austerity measures and attacks on the right to strike.
SYRIZA censures deputy for questioning Greek claims of disputed islands
By Christoph Dreier, 21 February 2013
The Greek Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) has expelled one of its members from a parliamentary committee after he distanced himself from anti-Turkish chauvinism and the Greek army.
Greek strikes continue as unemployment, poverty hit record levels
By Robert Stevens, 16 February 2013
In the face of a deepening slump and growing government repression, workers throughout Greece have continued strikes and protests ahead of a general strike February 20.
A reply to a defender of SYRIZA
By Robert Stevens, 8 February 2013
The WSWS replies to a criticism of “Pseudo-left conceals refusal of SYRIZA, PASOK and trade unions to oppose Golden Dawn.”
Greek government imposes martial law on ferry strikers
By Christoph Dreier, 7 February 2013
The criminalization of striking workers harks back to the police state conditions that prevailed under the fascist regime of the Greek colonels some 40 years ago.
Greek government threatens striking ferry workers with martial law
By Christoph Dreier, 5 February 2013
The Greek government has announced that it intends to ban a strike by ferry workers against wage cuts and sackings and place the workers under martial law.
Greek workers strike against austerity measures
By Christoph Dreier, 1 February 2013
On Thursday Greece witnessed numerous protests and strikes against the government’s austerity measures and its brutal crackdown against strikers.
Political lessons of the Athens subway strike
By Christoph Dreier, 29 January 2013
The invocation of emergency powers and use of state violence to smash the Athens subway strike has shattered all claims that it is possible to shift the policy of the state by mass pressure from below.
Greek government extends strikebreaking against subway workers to rail and tram workers
By Christoph Dreier, 28 January 2013
The Greek government has turned to state repression to halt sympathy strikes after using emergency powers and police violence to break the Athens subway strike.
Refugees subject to vicious treatment by Greek, Italian police
By Martin Kreickenbaum, 28 January 2013
A report by Human Rights Watch documents the way in which Italian border police are deporting groups of asylum seekers to Greece without any attempt to examine their grounds for asylum.
Greek government mobilizes riot police to break Athens subway strike
By Christoph Dreier, 26 January 2013
The use of dictatorial laws and state violence amounts to the criminalization of any form of collective resistance by workers.
Greek pseudo-left leader Tsipras auditions for State Department, IMF
By Bill Van Auken, 26 January 2013
With Greece’s government in deepening crisis, Alexis Tsipras, leader of the SYRIZA opposition party, came to the US to meet with State Department and IMF officials and make a series of public appearances.
Pseudo-left conceals refusal of SYRIZA, PASOK and trade unions to oppose Golden Dawn
By Chris Marsden and Christoph Dreier, 25 January 2013
Boasts of a “united front” against Golden Dawn in Greece are aimed at presenting establishment parties and the trade unions as a bulwark against fascism.
Striking Athens subway workers defy court ruling
By Robert Stevens, 24 January 2013
The strike by Athens subway workers continued into its seventh day yesterday in defiance of a court ruling declaring the work action illegal.
Political issues in the fight against the fascist Golden Dawn
By Chris Marsden, 19 January 2013
Tens of thousands will rally today in Syntagma Square, Athens to voice their opposition to the fascist Golden Dawn.
Greek SYRIZA leader meets with German finance minister
By Christoph Dreier, 15 January 2013
On Monday, Alexis Tsipras met with the German finance minister to discuss the credit agreements between the European Union and Greece.
Greek government parties, opposition call joint demonstration
By Christoph Dreier, 8 January 2013
The alliance calling for a protest demonstration on January 19 against the Chrysi Avgi has no intention of conducting a serious struggle against the fascists.
Germany: PSG holds meetings in defence of Greek workers
By Marianne Arens, 22 December 2012
The Partei für Soziale Gleichheit (Socialist Equality Party) recently held a series of meetings in Germany under the slogan “Defend Greek workers.”
Social discontent grows in Greece against austerity
By Christoph Dreier, 21 December 2012
Workers are vehemently opposed to the implementation of the most recent cuts package, in particular the massive layoffs planned for the public sector.
The destruction of health care in Greece
By Ernst Wolf, 8 December 2012
Five austerity packages within the space of two and a half years have reduced the health system in Greece to the level of a developing country.
Austerity without end
By Peter Schwarz, 29 November 2012
The main message from Monday’s meeting of euro zone finance ministers is that the Greek people confront years, if not decades, of austerity.
No debt reduction for Greece
By Peter Schwarz, 28 November 2012
Euro zone finance ministers rejected calls by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), among others, for debt relief for the highly indebted country.
SYRIZA leader visits Barcelona to prop up Greens and Stalinists
By Alejandro López, 26 November 2012
Alexis Tsipras attended a public meeting in Catalonia just three days before the regional elections.
Greece in the grip of the EU
By Christoph Dreier, 22 November 2012
The latest draft of the credit agreement between the Troika and the Greek government envisages the virtual abrogation of all the legal powers of parliament.
The troika calls for further cuts in Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 17 November 2012
The report presented November 12 by the troika paints a devastating picture of Greece’s economic prospects.
SYRIZA leader Tsipras offers his services to the troika
By Christoph Dreier, 14 November 2012
Under conditions of growing popular resistance to austerity, SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras is preparing to succeed the unstable government of Greece in order to suppress workers’ protests.
Euro zone finance ministers demand deeper cuts in Greece, Europe
By Robert Stevens and Jordan Shilton, 13 November 2012
A meeting of euro zone finance ministers on Monday delayed a further 31.5 billion euros in aid to Greece.
Strikes continue in Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 10 November 2012
Following parliamentary adoption of the fifth package of austerity measures, strikes are continuing in much of the Greek public sector.
What way forward for workers in Greece?
By Christoph Dreier, 9 November 2012
While this week’s strikes and mass protests show the immense potential power of the Greek workers, the policy of the trade unions and their political allies is aimed at suffocating the struggle to defeat the austerity measures.
Greek parliament approves drastic austerity plan amid mass strikes
By Christoph Dreier, 8 November 2012
On Wednesday night the Greek Parliament voted in favor of the country’s fifth austerity program within the space of the last three years.
Anti-austerity strike brings Greece to a halt
By Christoph Dreier, 7 November 2012
Tuesday saw the beginning of a 48-hour general strike in Greece against the government’s austerity measures.
Greek journalist acquitted for leaking list of wealthy potential tax dodgers
By Robert Stevens, 3 November 2012
Kostas Vaxevanis has been found innocent of breaching data privacy laws by a three-judge panel in Athens.
Defend the Greek working class!
By Christoph Dreier, 2 November 2012
A critical precondition for a struggle of the European working class against austerity is political solidarity with the embattled Greek working class.
SYRIZA supports Greek government as it negotiates new austerity measures
By Christoph Dreier, 31 October 2012
Amid massive opposition to the new austerity package, the largest opposition party, SYRIZA, has pledged its support to the Greek government.
Further cuts leading to collapse of Greek health system
By Christoph Dreier, 27 October 2012
One of the hardest hit victims of the austerity program dictated by the EU and the IMF is the Greek health sector.
Another EU memorandum for Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 25 October 2012
On Wednesday, the Greek government announced it had reached an agreement with the troika (the European Central Bank, European Commission and International Monetary Fund) on a new austerity package.
The danger of fascism in Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 23 October 2012
Brutal attacks on the social rights of the working class across Europe are accompanied by the growth of fascistic movements such as Greece’s Golden Dawn.
Mass protests and police violence in Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 19 October 2012
As EU leaders assembled in Brussels to discuss how to proceed with the euro crisis, tens of thousands demonstrated in Greek cities against austerity measures.
EU austerity drives repression in Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 13 October 2012
Greece is in the forefront not only of assaults on social rights, but also of political attacks on the working class.
Greek police torture anti-fascist protesters
By Christoph Dreier, 11 October 2012
While anti-fascist demonstrators are being tortured and abused in Greek jails, the EU is encouraging and tolerating this practice.
German chancellor Angela Merkel visits Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 10 October 2012
The protests that took place during German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s state visit to Greece on Monday reflect the explosive class tensions in Europe.
Greek police collude with fascist Golden Dawn group
By Robert Stevens, 9 October 2012
Greek police are ever more openly colluding with the fascist Golden Dawn (Chrysi Avgi) organization.
European Union demands further cuts in Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 5 October 2012
The loans promised by the troika last June will be withheld until the Greek budget for 2013 complies fully with the proscriptions of EU bureaucrats.
SYRIZA deepens European Union ties as austerity intensifies in Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 4 October 2012
The Greek government is encountering increasing difficulties in enforcing cuts and under these conditions the SYRIZA coalition is assuming growing significance for the ruling elite.
Millions of Greek workers join one-day general strike against austerity
By Stefan Steinberg, 27 September 2012
Millions of Greek workers stopped work and hundreds of thousands participated in demonstrations Wednesday to oppose the latest package of austerity measures introduced by the coalition government led by Antonis Samaras.
Greece: Growing resistance to austerity measures
By Christoph Dreier, 22 September 2012
While the Greek government consults EU representatives about how best to lower the state deficit, wide-scale popular resistance to austerity is brewing.
The troika returns to Athens
By Christoph Dreier, 12 September 2012
The EU has transformed Greece into a protectorate, in which European companies can exploit workers at low wages.
The bankers’ dictatorship in Greece
By Stefan Steinberg, 8 September 2012
The financial elite is demanding a fundamental assault in Greece on all the gains made by the working class in the twentieth century.
EU, IMF demand lower wages, longer hours in Greece
By Stefan Steinberg, 6 September 2012
The letter leaked to the press before EU and IMF talks in Athens calls for a six-day work week, new minimum wage cuts, and other attacks.
European parliament president calls for special economic zones in Greece
By Ernst Wolff, 4 September 2012
The call for the introduction of special economic zones in Greece by the European Union signals an intensification of the attack on workers.
German chancellor demands tougher austerity in Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 25 August 2012
In his first official visit abroad, Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras travelled to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
European Union intensifies pressure on Greece for social cuts
By Christoph Dreier, 23 August 2012
The aim of European meetings this week is to put pressure on Greece to commit to further social cuts, while ruthlessly implementing those already agreed upon.
Racist murder in Greece reflects rising neo-Nazi influence
By Christoph Dreier, 15 August 2012
Early on Sunday morning a group of fascist thugs murdered a 19-year-old Iraqi on the streets of Athens.
Defend immigrants in Greece
By Christoph Dreier, 11 August 2012
Last weekend, some 4,500 Athens police officers were mobilized to round up thousands of people believed to be immigrants.
Greek government launches mass round-up and deportation of immigrants
By Christoph Dreier, 9 August 2012
Just a week after the Greek government announced €11.5 billion in new cuts in social spending, 4,500 police officers in bullet-proof vests, accompanied by Alsatian dogs, took to the streets of Athens to hunt down foreign-looking people
Greek government agrees €11.5 billion cuts package
By Robert Stevens, 4 August 2012
The leaders of the three Greek government parties have announced their agreement on further austerity cuts amounting to €11.5 billion.
Greek government plans further cuts
By Christoph Dreier, 1 August 2012
On Monday the Greek government announced it would only publish the details of the new austerity package in August.
Greek government, European officials plan billions in new social cuts
By Alex Lantier and John Vassilopoulos, 27 July 2012
Greek officials met with European Commission (EC) President José Manuel Barroso and international financial officials yesterday to discuss a new round of budget cuts.
Brutal police attack on steel strike in Greece
By Katerina Selin, 26 July 2012
Last Friday police began a violent intervention to break the picket line at the Halyvourgia Ellados steel plant in Greece.
EU representatives discuss withdrawal of Greece from the euro zone
By Christoph Dreier, 25 July 2012
European and international financial officials are threatening to force a state bankruptcy if Athens does not impose further austerity measures.
SYRIZA backs Greek government’s capitulation to the EU
By Christoph Dreier, 23 July 2012
The opposition party SYRIZA has reneged on its pre-election promises and now accepts the EU’s draconian conditions for financial aid to Greece.
Greek government lays out fresh cuts, privatisations
By Robert Stevens, 19 July 2012
The New Democracy-led coalition government in Greece is preparing a further 11.6 billion-euro austerity package.
Greek government announces further austerity
By Christoph Dreier, 9 July 2012
During the recent election campaign, the Greek prime minister promised to renegotiate the memorandum with the so-called troika, but now he has categorically rejected such a step.
Troika arrives in Athens to organise looting of Greece
By Robert Stevens, 5 July 2012
The New Democracy-led Greek coalition government is meeting officials from the European Commission, European Central Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) today.
Greek government presses ahead with austerity
By Robert Stevens, 3 July 2012
Within days of being elected, the Greek coalition government led by New Democracy has already reneged on the few pledges it was forced to make in order to placate massive opposition to years of austerity.
Conflicts emerge in formation of new Greek government
By Christoph Dreier, 27 June 2012
With the resignation of Finance Minister-designate Vasilis Rapanos and the appointment of Yannis Stournaras, conflicts have come to light in the formation of the new Greek government.
Greek government haggles over terms of debt repayment
By Robert Stevens, 25 June 2012
The meeting of the new Greek coalition government consisting of New Democracy, PASOK and the Democratic Left with officials from the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund has been delayed for a week.
Greek crisis stokes geopolitical rivalries
By Jordan Shilton, 23 June 2012
The economic and social catastrophe unfolding in Greece is bringing to the fore long-running geopolitical conflicts.
New Democracy heads austerity coalition in Greece
By Julie Hyland, 21 June 2012
New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras was sworn in as Greece’s new prime minister Wednesday evening, heading a coalition government with the social democratic PASOK and the Democratic Left.
Prospective coalition parties in Greece pledged to impose deeper cuts
By Julie Hyland, 20 June 2012
Athens is expected to announce a “national salvation” coalition headed by the conservative New Democracy, whose objective is to press ahead with the austerity measures agreed with the troika—the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
The human cost of Greece’s austerity measures
By Robert Stevens, 20 June 2012
The social hardship being imposed on an already poverty-stricken Greek population is without parallel in post-war Europe.
What way forward in Greece?
By Chris Marsden, 19 June 2012
New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras is expected to form a coalition government in Greece tasked with implementing brutal austerity measures.
Athens workers and youth discuss Greek election result
By Robert Stevens, 19 June 2012
The World Socialist Web Site discussed with workers and youth in Athens the result of Sunday’s general election as negotiations continued to form a government following the narrow victory of the conservative New Democracy.
Conservatives narrowly win Greek election
By Chris Marsden, 18 June 2012
The narrow victory of the conservative New Democracy in the Greek general election sets the stage for intense negotiations over the formation of a coalition government.
Greek Communist Party holds final election rally
By Christoph Dreier and Katerina Selin, 18 June 2012
The perspective of the Greek Communist Party, based on nationalism and support for the trade union bureaucracy, makes a mockery of its rhetorical calls for “people’s power” and “interventions of the working class”.
Greek workers, students discuss election with WSWS in Athens
By Robert Stevens, 18 June 2012
A World Socialist Web Site reporting team spoke to a number of workers and young people in Athens on Friday and Saturday on the eve of the June 17 election.
The political issues in the Greek elections
By Chris Marsden and Julie Hyland, 16 June 2012
Whoever wins the election, the working class will be forced to repay the €200 billion- plus bailout through the austerity measures attached to the Memorandum signed with the troika.
SYRIZA’s final election rally in Athens
By Christoph Dreier and Katerina Selin, 16 June 2012
Alexis Tsipras promised on Thursday to end the austerity measures in Greece. At the same time he insisted that SYRIZA represented no threat to the European institutions and that his party was ready to recognize the national debt.
Greece: WSWS interviews Athens workers and youth
By Robert Stevens, 16 June 2012
A WSWS reporting team spoke to residents in the district of Aigaleo in west Athens about their attitudes to Sunday’s election.
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