Скачать или смотреть Ministers approve new austerity measures

(9 Jun 2011)
1. Close-up of Parliament seen through cut out hole in banner; pulls out to show banner reading (Greek) "I never experienced a junta, but also never freedom"
2. Wide of demonstrators chanting outside Parliament, UPSOUND (Greek) "Thieves"
3. SOUNDBITE (Greek) Sofia, last name not given, demonstrator:
"We can't avoid the new measures anyway. I think they've been put in motion. What is important for us and for everyone here - something else is important: for those people who have caused this damage to pay. The measures cannot be avoided. I think decisions are made by others apart from the Greek government and Parliament."
4. Wide of demonstrators with bicycles outside Parliament
5. Pan of Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou leaving Parliament
6. Wide of Parliament entrance
7. Pan of Labour Minister Louka Katseli leaving building
8. Pan of Alternate Defence Minister Panos Beglitis, Agriculture Minister Costas Skandalidis and Deputy Culture Minister Tilemahos Hitiris, followed by Deputy Premier Theodoros Pangalos leaving building
9. Wide of Parliament
STORYLINE:
Protesters in Athens demonstrated outside the Greek parliament on Thursday, as Greek ministers approved a new round of austerity measures and a privatisation drive that are essential for the debt-ridden country to continue receiving funds from its international bailout.
A few hundred protesters shouted "thieves" as the ministers met to discuss the measures late on Thursday.
They have taken over the central Syntagma Square, setting up a tent city in a sit-in.
Tens of thousands of people thronged the square, which lies in front of Parliament, last Sunday.
Greece is lagging behind in making reforms promised in return for last year's 110 (b) billion euro (160 (b) billion US dollar) package of rescue loans.
Fellow eurozone governments have warned that if Greece does not enforce new austerity, it will be cut off from aid.
Without the next 12 (b) billion euro (17 (b) US dollar) instalment from its rescue loans due in July, Greece, which remains stuck in recession and locked out of international bond markets, will default on its massive debts.
The Greek Cabinet approved the new round of austerity measures and a 50 (b) billion euro (73 (b) billion US dollar) privatisation drive.
The new plans include a remedial 6.4 (b) billion euro (9.4 (b) billion US dollar) package of cuts and tax hikes for this year, a renewed 22 (b) billion euro (32.15 (b) billion US dollar) austerity drive for 2012-2015 and the privatisation programme.
Officials said all Greeks earning more than 8,000-10,000 euros (11,000-14,000 US dollars) annually will be charged an extra tax worth up to 3 percent of their income every year for the next four years, while the sales tax on restaurants and bars will increase to 23 percent from the current 13 percent.
Civil servants and pensioners will suffer more income cuts, while health, education, defence and social spending will be further curtailed.
Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said the plans were submitted to Parliament shortly after their approval.
No specific date has been set for a vote, but Cabinet officials said they expected it to be held before June 28.
The governing Socialists hold a six-seat majority in the 300-member legislature, but many party backbenchers have strongly criticised the new austerity plan - which follows a series of pension and salary cuts last year, accompanied by increases in taxes and retirement ages.
However, none of the disgruntled Socialist lawmakers have openly threatened to vote against the measures.

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