Greek gov't auterity measures face strong opposition
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Xinhua, June 19, 2011
Nearly half of Greek voters oppose the government's latest austerity measures which are part of efforts by Athens to secure a second international bailout to avoid default, a recent survey has shown.
The opinion poll, conducted by Kapa Research on Tuesday and Wednesday nationwide, showed 47.5 percent of respondents wanted parliament to reject the reform package, against 34.8 percent who wanted it approved.
Despite a 110-billion-euro bailout package which saved the country from the brink of a default last May, debt-ridden Greece is currently in pressing need of additional outside assistance from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the European Union (EU).
The EU and the IMF have offered Greece a fresh emergency loan package worth an estimated 120 billion euros (170 billion U.S. dollars) on condition that the government further reduces spending and implement new harsh economic reforms.
A EU summit will be held on Thursday and Friday and European leaders are expected to sign off on the new bailout plan for Greece.
In Brussels, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso on Friday called on Greeks to support the reforms, saying both the country and the EU should work to preserve financial stability.
In a news conference held Friday in Berlin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and visiting French President Nicolas Sarkozy said a quick solution to the Greek debt crisis is important for the stability of the euro.
Germany had earlier suggested that private investors contribute 30 billion euros to the second bailout plan, a notion rejected by France and the European Central Bank.
