May 11, 2011
Greek trade unionists dutifully turned out for a one-day general strike on Wednesday but the chanting of anti-austerity slogans outside parliament lacked the defiance of a year ago.
Only about 15,000 people – half the number expected – took part in what was billed as a last-ditch protest against a fresh austerity package that could bring a possible hiring freeze or even job losses for public sector workers.
Even the scuffles that broke out between riot police and self-styled anarchist groups taking part in the march were less violent than in past such protests, observers said.
“The police fired plenty of teargas but there wasn’t much drama . . . I didn’t feel I had to pull the shutters down like before,” said Haris, a shop-owner who witnessed Wednesday’s clashes.
Five months of violent anti-austerity protests ended abruptly last year after three bank employees died in an arson attack, just before parliament approved Greece’s bail-out agreement with the European Union and International Monetary Fund.
Enthusiasm for protesting has faded as reform fatigue sets in.
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