Protesters, Police Clash Over Greek Economic Reforms
ATHENS, Greece, July 15 (UPI) — Protesters threw Molotov cocktails Wednesday during clashes with police across the street from the Greek parliament as lawmakers debated whether to approve economic reforms.
More than 15,000 protesters gathered in Athens’ Syntagma Square, some of whom participated in violent demonstrations. Police arrested about 40 protesters who had set fire to garbage cans and damaged parked vehicles, USA Today reported.
Police also used tear gas on some of the crowd. By about 9:45 p.m., much of the crowd had dispersed, Bloomberg reported.
At 9:15 p.m., lawmakers began debating on whether to impose a new set of strict economic reforms in order to receive a $96 billion bailout from its creditors, the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank.
Greece would need to raise taxes as part of reforms; corporate taxes for small companies raised by three percent, a luxury tax on large cars, boats and swimming pools raised by three percent and a farmers’ tax raised by 13 percent.
The reforms would also end early retirement and require the retirement age to be raised from 65 to 67. Greece is expected to pass the reforms, but not easily.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tspiras said he did not believe in the deal, but agreed as to “avoid disaster for the country” and the collapse of its banks.
Parliament is expected to vote on the bailout by midnight local time.
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