In the Greek capital, 20,000 people demonstrated on Wednesday, November 9, against the increase in the cost of living and soaring energy prices. These demonstrators who came to protest against inflation were, according to police figures, twice as many as during the last similar mobilization in April 2022.
With our correspondent in Athens, Joel Bronner
” The high cost of living is intolerable “, denounces a banner of this Athenian procession. Hospitals, schools or transport… Few sectors have not been affected by the call for a general strike in Greece. In October, inflation over one year has reached 20% for energy prices alone and is, overall, in recent months between 10 and 12%. A blow in a country already hard hit by a decade of economic crisis, which notably led to a general drop in wages.
In the crowd, the former Prime Minister and leader of the opposition, Alexis Tsipras, takes the opportunity to make his voice heard before the elections scheduled for next summer. ” Every passing day makes the rich richer, the middle class poorer and the poor more desperate, he throws. Today’s mobilization sends a strong message: the people can make things change. There is indeed an alternative solution to protect Greek society and this alternative is wage support, employment support and social justice. »
Wage increase
Main demand of the Greek demonstrators: higher wages, in a country where the minimum income has increased twice this year to reach 713 euros gross.
Several thousand people also marched in Thessaloniki, the second city of Greece during this national day of call for a general strike. Both demonstrations ended in scuffles.