An Anti-Austerity Rally in Greece and the Problems of Eurozone
The victory of Syriza in Greece is important not only for Greek people, but also for the rest ofEurope. Greeks are satisfied with the change of the ruling party that is now in power. European leaders welcome the democratic vote of the people and recognize the new authorities but they do not agree with the requirements of the new Greek authorities. While the newly-elected Greek Prime Minister and parliamentarians undertake their posts, the Athens witnesses the major rally since the Syriza party came to power.
Greece’s Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has renewed his determination to put an end to austerity measures. At the same time approximately 3,000 to 5,000 people gathered outside the Greek parliament in Athens for a pro-governmental, anti-austerity rally. This peaceful rally, organized via social networks was the first and the major anti-austerity rally since the left-wing Syriza party has come to power. Demonstrators expressed their support to the new finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis.
The Finance minister Yanis Vafoulakis met with his German counterpart Wolfgang Schaeuble. The meeting ended with no prospects of a swift deal on Greece's debt repayments or an extension of the current bailout program. "Greece belongs to the euro zone, but we don't really agree on what needs to be done next. We agree to disagree", German finance minister said after the meeting. He reminded Varoufakis that any changes to the current bailout program have to be agreed among the 19 euro zone governments and approved by their parliaments. Changing that procedure would entail a change of the EU treaties, he added.
Meanwhile the newly elected deputies had three ceremonies to take the vow of allegiance, one Orthodox followed by a Muslim and then a civil ceremony. Tsipras became the first Prime Minister to hold a civil ceremony.