Alexis Tsipras at the Helexpo demonstration

Alexis Tsipras at the Helexpo demonstration, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

With the presence of 2000 extra police officers on the streets, snipers stationed on rooftops and helicopters circling overhead, downtown Thessaloniki resembles less a city celebrating the opening of a major trade fair than a town under siege.

The arrival of the Greek prime minister Kostas Karamalis in Greece’s second city has triggered massive street protests by those unhappy with his government’s handling of the economy and upset at a seemingly endless stream of financial scandals involving senior ministers.

In a keynote speech at the opening of the trade fair the prime minster tried to put a brave face on what has been a disasterous summer for the New Democracy administration by emphasising the need for reform of Greece’s ailing economy and by promoting public works such as the Thessaloniki underground which he says are proof that the present government has been able to improve the lives of ordinary Greeks.

However, critics have pointed out that despite five years of conservative rule the country, unlike neighbouring Turkey and Bulgaria has failed to attract increased foreign investment and that direct investment is now lower than in countries such as Uzbekistan.

Similarly, all except one of the major public works in Greece’s second city have ground to a halt due to lack of funding from Athens and that the much hyped underground is behind schedule and over budget.

Karamanlis and party officials have been keen to point out that Greece is suffering from the effects of worldwide problems caused by rising oil prices and a global credit crunch. However, many of the ruling New Democracy party’s problems appear to be strictly home made.

Their standing in the opinion polls has fallen dramatically over the 12 months since re-election as scandal after scandal has come to public light, many connected with dubious land deals involving ruling party MPs and ministers. As if to add to the government’s woes last week the party even faced accusations of tampering in a parliamentary vote.

In addition the rises in the cost of basic goods and services, which have long outstripped those in other European countries, stagnant wages and most recently swingeing tax increases for lower income groups have combined to undermine public confidence in the Greek government.

Opposition to government attempts to push through an unpopular political agenda has seen groups as disparate as cleaners and anarchists, police officers and communist trade unionists joined forces on the streets of Thessaloniki. Yesterday. Between ten and twenty thousand protesters marched to express their unhappiness with government policies and the state of the country’s political scene in general.

Whilst the march passed off peacefully, local media sources reported that small anarchist groups attacked shops and a bank afterwards and the police had made 15 arrests.

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/greek-pm-under-siege

Saturday's demo in colour

I thought I'd post some more photos from Saturday's anti-government rally that marked the Greek prime minister's visit to the 73rd International Trade Fair here in Thessaloniki. For more details on that check out the story I wrote for NowPublic.com.

Actually, these events are full of striking images and often remind me of Kurosawa's Ran in that each group is colour coded. The trade unionists wear something orange or yellow, the anarchists with their red and black, the anarcho-ecologist, green and black, the communists decked out with their traditional red flags.

In addition to the more traditional groups the Greens were there to raise public awareness about the problems of carbon footprint created by the use of lignite by the Greece's publicly owned power company, DEH.

Employees from Olympic Airways were protesting against government attempts to sell off Greece's national airline.

The riot police were employed not just to keep protester from approaching the Trade Fair, but also to separate various groups within the march who spent as much time battling each other as they did the authorities.

"Dear Mom,

Just arrived in the city and it's very hot, Still, the people are very friendly and the police have been very helpful. I think they are all here to watch a soccer match. Hope everyone back there in Arkansas is doing well.

Yours

Bob
Alexis Tsipras, the chairman of the Synaspismos party.

Anti-government demo - Thessaloniki

Anti-government demo - Thessaloniki, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

It takes a particular kind of political genius to build a coalition that includes groups as disparate as air stewardesses and anarcho-syndicalists, firemen and ecologists, cops and communists. However, Greek prime minister, Kostas Karamanlis has indeed united all these people, however, all in opposition to his scandal - ridden government which seems incapable of getting through a week without one embarrassing revelation or another.

Dodgy land deals, suspicious financial transactions in business, even vote rigging in parliament are just some of the charges the conservative New Democracy party has faced in the 12 months since it was re-elected.

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/greek-pm-under-siege

The revolution will not be televised. More on our 6pm bulletin.

The revolution will not be televised. More on our 6pm bulletin., originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

In less than a week there will be a protest rally to mark the arrival of the prime minister of Greece, Kostas Karamanlis to open the annual trade fair here in Thessaloniki. He is guaranteed a "warm reception" by trade unionist and many other groups unhappy with the New Democracy administration's handling of the economy. Unemployment, rising prices, stagnant wages combined with this weeks swingeing tax hikes means that the only people happy to see Karamanlis in the city will be the cops looking to boost their overtime bonuses.

It's almost a year since Greece's finest kicked the crap out of me for taking pictures (click here) during last year's peaceful march. Lesson learned. This time I'll have my running shoes on.