Yesterday, on Sunday, February 12th, Athens has been engulfed by a wave of violence while the Parliament was discussing the approval of a new austerity plan. Hundreds of thousands of Greeks took to the streets in Athens around Syntagma Square. By the end of the day, violent clashes between security forces and demonstrators erupted: at least 34 buildings were set on fire and 150 commercial businesses looted. Protests and sporadic violence was also reported in several others cities across Greece. More social unrest cannot be excluded in coming days.
In the night between Sunday and Monday, the Parliament finally approved severe austerity measures that plan 3.3 billion governmental savings. The plan includes a decrease of salaries, pensions and new job cuts. This drastic plan should allow the country to get access to a 130 billion loan from the European Union and the IMF in order to avoid bankruptcy. However, the approval of this law has triggered violent demonstrations in the country, the worst since 2008. Demonstrations and strikes, denouncing the poor living conditions and the degradation of the standard of living, are common since 2010.
Travellers are advised to avoid all public gatherings and demonstrations as they might turn violent at short notice. Listen to local and international media in order to get updated information. Stay away from government buildings.
