Free food on the streets of Athens in market traders protest
- 10 years ago
Thousands of people in Athens and other Greek cities received free food from market traders. Many had waited for hours and jostled and pushed to grab the handouts.
The fish and vegetables were given away by street vendors as they launched an indefinite strike over new trading rules. It’s estimated 65 tons of vegetables and 1.5 tons of fish were given away.
The shake-up in regulations has led to protests from others including pharmacy owners.
“How can we pay taxes with a pension of only 500 euros after working for 30 years? Send out the message – people are hungry and Samaras and Venizelos and all of the politicians are building houses and consuming millions of euros,” said Maria, a pensioner.
Athens finance ministry said on Wednesday it expects to achieve a primary budget surplus – what is left after debt and interest payments of 2.3 percent of the country’s annual economic output. Achieving a surplus has been one of the main aims of the austerity measures.
The fish and vegetables were given away by street vendors as they launched an indefinite strike over new trading rules. It’s estimated 65 tons of vegetables and 1.5 tons of fish were given away.
The shake-up in regulations has led to protests from others including pharmacy owners.
“How can we pay taxes with a pension of only 500 euros after working for 30 years? Send out the message – people are hungry and Samaras and Venizelos and all of the politicians are building houses and consuming millions of euros,” said Maria, a pensioner.
Athens finance ministry said on Wednesday it expects to achieve a primary budget surplus – what is left after debt and interest payments of 2.3 percent of the country’s annual economic output. Achieving a surplus has been one of the main aims of the austerity measures.