Greece passes new austerity plan amid violent clashes

The Greek parliament narrowly approved a fresh austerity package and series of structural reform measures on the 7 November 2012, opening the way for international lenders to transfer a long-delayed €31.5bn slice of funding and take steps to ease the terms of the country’s €174bn bailout.

Protesters descended on Syntagma Square in central Athens waving flags and shouting their defiance at the austerity measures.

Greek MPs were due to pass a revised 2013 budget on 11 November 2012 before eurozone finance ministers were due to meet on the 12 November 2012 to approve €31.5bn in fresh loans from the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that Greece needed to avoid imminent bankruptcy.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Athens heralds bailout agreement http://www.europeansources.info/record/athens-heralds-bailout-agreement/

ESO: Key source: The Greek Debt Crisis http://www.europeansources.info/record/the-greek-debt-crisis-key-sources/

Kathimerini, 08.11.12: Greek Parliament passes new austerity package with tiny majority http://ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_08/11/2012_468997

BBC News, 08.11.12: Greece lawmakers back austerity cuts amid protests http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-20247189

EUObserver, 08.11.12: Greece passes austerity bill despite clashes http://euobserver.com/economic/118131

Deutsche Welle, 07.11.12: Greek workers strike ahead of austerity vote http://www.dw.de/greek-workers-strike-ahead-of-austerity-vote/a-16360097

To Vima / To Ethnos / I Kathimerini, 08.11.12: “Last chance” vote a Pyrrhic victory (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/press-review/3008631-last-chance-vote-pyrrhic-victory

Spiegel Online International, 8.11.12: Greek Parliament Narrowly Passes Deep New Cuts http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/greece-passes-more-austerity-measures-despite-protests-a-866067.html

Kathimerini, 08.11.12: EU keeps Greece waiting for loan http://ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_08/11/2012_469182

EUObserver, 09.11.12: Germany: No decision on Greece next week http://euobserver.com/economic/118142

Deutsche Welle, 08.11.12: European partners welcome new Greek cuts http://www.dw.de/european-partners-welcome-new-greek-cuts/a-16366209

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