Protests continue in Spain

[joeblow]

http://www.presstv.com/detail/182307.html



Spaniards remain camped out at Madrid's main square, despite tight security, to protest against the government's austerity measures and growing unemployment rate.

Thousands of angry protesters have packed the capital's Puerta Del Sol square, since the protests began two weeks ago, and promised to stay out in makeshift tents until Sunday, a Press TV correspondent reported on Sunday.

The leading protest group known as "the indignants" once again took to Madrid's main square to decide whether to carry on a vigil, AFP reported.

In Barcelona, fresh clashes erupted between protesters and police amid a mass celebration following Barcelona's Champions League 3-1 win against Manchester United.

On Friday, similar clashes in Spain's second-largest city left over a hundred protesters wounded after police ordered them to move their tents out of Catalonia Square.

Jorge Naroja, a spokesman for the "Democracia Real Ya" (Real Democracy Now) compared protests in Spain with the anti-government movements in the Middle East and North Africa, saying what they have in common is protesters' courage and their determination to fight corrupt politicians and dictators.

The protests in Spain are inspired by the recent revolutions in Tunisia and Egypt as pas part of the Islamic Awakening that has been sweeping across the Middle East and North Africa.

Spain has been witnessing demonstrations against the government's austerity measures since mid-May.

The massive protests came after the government of Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodrigues Zapatero introduced a slew of drastic austerity measures.

The measures include the cutting of civil servant wages, as part of its plans to curb the budget deficit from 11 percent a year earlier to within three percent of the GDP, a limit set by the European Union by 2013.

REZ/PKH/MMN

[joeblow]

Spain M-15 revolt spills into Greece

http://www.presstv.com/detail/182355.html



Protesters attend a rally in Syntagma Square, in front of the Greek Parliament.

Thousands of people have once again flocked the streets in Athens, protesting for a fifth day against their government's austerity policies, inspired by the M-15 movement in Spain.

Police estimated some 30,000 protesters to have gathered at the central Syntagma Square in the Greek capital of Athens, in the largest set of anti-government demonstrations since Wednesday.

Sunday's demonstration however, was inspired by an online campaign on various social network sites, which called for anti-government demonstrations across all of Europe, modeled by the Spanish M-15 movement, AFP reported.

Further, the online campaign called on the demonstrators to demand "real democracy."

Banners that read "poverty is the greatest abuse" were used in the demonstrations in front of the parliament building in Athens.

Other groups of protesters were beating empty pots while chanting "thieves".

"I'm here to say that I've had enough. It's not right to have to pay for politicians' mistakes," said Vivi Villa.

She did however, admit that leaders will not take their actions seriously and so nothing will in fact change.

The protests come as the Greek government is planning to impose a new austerity package in efforts to secure the new International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout installment.

Greece received a 110 billion EU-IMF bailout loan last year, as it faced a massive debt crisis.

The bailout loan saved Greece from the brink of default. However, Athens was obliged to implement a strict austerity package, including the cutting of public sector salary and pensions, increasing taxes and overhauling the pension system, to survive.

Moreover, the country is again struggling to not face yet another debt crisis, as it is again seeking financial aid.

Since last year, Greece has witnessed several violent clashes between police forces and protesters, where many on both sides have been injured.

Sunday's protests however, was the largest gathering yet since the protests commenced again this Wednesday.

A poll conducted recently, found that Greeks no longer have confidence their government can pull the country out of their national debt, as reported by AFP.

A further 57 percent agreed that "approved or somewhat approved" of the anti-government demonstrations taking place. The poll was published in the Greek daily To Vima.

PM/MGH/SZH/MB

[joeblow]

Protesters vow to continue Madrid sit-in

http://www.presstv.com/detail/182422.html



Demonstrators showing their empty palms march past Spanish riot police at the French Embassy in Madrid, during a protest in support of demonstrators in Paris, May 30, 2011.

Spain's anti-government protesters have promised to remain in Madrid's main square in protest at the country's political establishment.

Thousands of angry protesters against the government's austerity measures and growing unemployment rate raised hands on Sunday to vote for staying in the Puerta del Sol square.

"We have started something in Sol, we have started to spread to the rest of the world, so this is not the time to stop it," a protest spokesman in the encampment said on Monday.

Spain's M-15 movement has inspired other European countries as well.

Hundreds of Parisians on Sunday took part in a protest rally at the Bastille Square, calling for a popular democratic uprising among Europeans, while some 20,000 Greek protesters gathered near the parliament building in Athens with the same call.

"The support we received internationally was very important, it was something that moved us in Sol, especially the mobilization in Paris was a very big support, and also the mobilization in Greece," the spokesman for the Spanish protest said.

Spain has been witnessing demonstrations against the government's austerity measures since mid-May.

The massive protests came after the government of Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero introduced a slew of drastic austerity measures.

The measures include the cutting of civil servant wages, as part of its plans to curb the budget deficit from 11 percent a year earlier to within three percent of the GDP, a limit set by the European Union by 2013.

MD/AKM/MMN