Live: Athens burns as the Euro and overspending take their toll

[-:Undertaker:-]

http://eureferendum.blogspot.com/2012/02/greek-timetable.html

The results of the Euro project and government spending; Social unrest spreads in Athens


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UPDATE 22:35 GMT: Voting has been going on for about 15 minutes. At a rough guess, the yes have it, but it still goes on. Outside, more than ten buildings reported fired, and many shops looted. The buildings fired included the neo-classical home to the Attikon cinema dating from 1870 and a building housing the Asty, an underground cinema used by the Gestapo during World War Two as a torture chamber.


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UPDATE 22:11 GMT: Prime minister Lucas Papademos is speaking. Says that Greece had to continue being a member of the hard core of Europe. It's not the time for detailed analysis, it's the time for decisions. The health ministry says 54 people have been taken to hospital. (Live news blog from Athens News - via ZeroHedge.)

UPDATE 20:13 GMT: Seven buildings are reported to have been fired. A mobile phone dealership and a glassware store a reported amongst them, plus a cinema. Earlier, as many as 100,000 protesters were said to have been demonstrating outside the parliament.


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UPDATE: A Starbucks store and a branch of Greek bank Eurobank (above) have been set on fire in Athens. The incident occurred in Korai square, near Syntagma square. Clashes continue between the police and hooded black bloc anarchists who mingled with tens of thousands of peaceful demonstrators outside the Greek Parliament where, at 11pm, MPs are scheduled to vote.

Skai TV reports that police have run out of tear gas and have asked for more supplies to be brought. No doubt, they have a hotline to the nearest rep. Zerohedge is covering the action. The live action seems to confirm this ... not a lot of tear gas visible.


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According to Reuters, the 300-seat parliament was due to begin debating the [austerity] bill at 2 pm (1200 GMT) before a vote expected late this evening.

Demonstrators had pledged to turn out in force at 6 p.m. (1600 GMT) on the main square in front of the parliament, although rainy weather may limit the numbers of protesters. Even if numbers are sparse, though, this still seems the most valuable investment opportunity. Booker, in the meantime, has a few observations on the issue.

And despite the unpopularity of the austerity measures, the general view – if The Guardian is any guide – is that Papademos is going to get a majority in parliament. The tribalism of the political classes will win out.

So sad, don't get too comfortable though - whilst we aren't in the dreaded Euro, our government still continues to overspend.

Thoughts?

[jasey]

We use the Euro here in France so this is a bit unsettling. I have to do some housework before I sleep or I would say more.

[GommeInc]

I find it odd that the Eurozone want to chuck out Athens if they do not agree.... It doesn't speak wonders for cross-border relations if the EU and the Eurozone are happy to chuck people out of their exclusive club - the club which is causing more damage than good to all countries who use the Euro. Germany is the only one benefitting from it, because these daft nations have been allowing themselves to sign off powers and give them to Germany. The Eurozone is harming itself by only focusing on internal matters - this will never solve the problems! America and China are giving up hope on the project, when it is them who can help save the Euro through investment and closer ties.

But of course, we all know Europe will never pull that off. They're like a bunch of bickering old women only in it for the money. It's a self-destructive system.