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Banner in hand, Vassilis Myrsinias parades through the streets of Athens on Wednesday at the call of the General Confederation of Private Workers (GSEE). Despite sparse ranks, this 32-year-old bartender is convinced: "It's a beginning. Only by demonstrating and claiming our rights will Greece turn its back on this deadly economic policy! " Admittedly, the end of the structural adjustment programs was recorded on August 20th. But the country remains under the tutelage of its creditors. So Vassilis Myrsinias is categorical: "The government has basically not changed direction … it's austerity at every level." Understand the continued decline in public spending with the added bonus of higher taxes.
During this day of general strike, protesters want proof of this first budget discussed since November 21 in Parliament. Here again Vassilis Myrsinias does not stop, this budget is only a pale copy of what has been done in Greece for almost ten years: "The government, which claims to be left-wing, is not proposing any improvement in the areas of health or education." And to add, as a claim: "Today the minimum wage is only 586 euros gross, it must be reevaluated to its pre-crisis level, 751 euros. We are asking for better working conditions, the return of collective agreements that have been abolished in recent years and the effective end of the austerity measures. "
No new cuts
This Wednesday, while the protesters beat the pavement, the Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is him against the deputies. At the rostrum of Parliament, the leader Syriza (the Greek left), tries to defend its balance sheet and its budget law for 2019. "Austerity belongs to the past," he said in substance while the country, after eight years of recession, should post a recovery of 2.5% in 2019. And it is precisely thanks to this perspective that the budget, currently under debate, should show a rise in spending component … the first in a decade. After cutting 27 times in pensions since 2010, the government has just announced not wanting to make new cuts … And this despite the requirements of the IMF.
Syriza deputy and member of the Social Affairs Committee, Betty Skoufa explains: "Growth must benefit the majority of society. And that's how we built this budget. " She points out that if, in 2015, when her party came to the head of the government, "Social spending was only 790 million euros, the lowest level among the 28 member states, they should amount to some 3 billion euros next year. And this for the benefit of nurseries, schools or vocational training … " And to add: "620,000 pensioners will see their pensions increase while 300,000 families will receive housing assistance. "
Deceptive appearances
Will these measures be enough to reassure the population? "When I voted for Syriza in 2015, this party assured us that it would not repay the debt … It did not do anything! Or that it would put an immediate stop to the austerity … Again, lie …, protests Panayotis Pagoutsos, simple protester but supports his remarks citing a report of the International Labor Organization (ILO). It recalls that employees suffered "An annual reduction in their income of 3.1% on average since 2008". A 24-year-old student in journalism, 24-year-old Marinela Kourkoundouri shares this flush: "Throughout this decade, working conditions have deteriorated, unemployment has increased, wages have fallen. My retired mother did not stop seeing her pension decrease… how can we find that acceptable? "
But now, the government is in a situation that looks like squaring the circle. Difficult to soothe the anger that rises when there is little room for maneuver. On the fiscal side, Greece remains under enhanced surveillance by the European Union, with each decision to be validated by the European Commission. Not to mention the respect of a series of commitments, like the one that forces Athens to post a primary surplus of its budget (excluding debt service) of 3.5% until 2022. As for the social component appearances are in fact deceptive. "Admittedly, unemployment has increased from 26% of the active population to less than 20% today, but here are the job creations are mainly part-time," explains economics professor Savas Robolis from the University of Athens. And in terms of jobs, its forecasts are disturbing to say the least. "The country will return to the level of employment of 2009 in 2040 … And again, it will require that growth increases by 1.5% each year", He says.
Fabien Perrier Correspondent in Athens
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