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austerity measures
Labor demonstrations marking May Day are taking place across the world, with the main focus on Europe and its backdrop of unpopular austerity measures and rising social unrest.
Greece, Spain and Portugal are set to hold large nationwide demonstrations.
At a Paris rally, National Front leader Marine Le Pen is expected to tell her supporters who they should vote for in Sunday’s presidential run-off vote.
The Occupy protest movement has urged May Day action spanning the globe.
Anti-austerity protesters will take part in a day of strikes and demonstrations across Greece.
In Athens, protests have become an institution, with public and private sector strikes and disruption to public transport.
But there may be less of the traditional violence, since minds are focused on Sunday’s general election, when many Greeks are expected to vent their anger against the austerity measures.
Labor demonstrations marking May Day are taking place across the world, with the main focus on Europe
Elections on Sunday are also the main focus in France.
Marine Le Pen will lead a march in Paris to the statue of Joan of Arc, an iconic figure for the far right.
She has promised to indicate where the 6.5m voters who supported her in the first round of the presidential election should cast their votes on Sunday, in the crucial second round between President Nicolas Sarkozy and the Socialist candidate Francois Hollande.
Nicolas Sarkozy will rally in Trocadero Square, while French unions march to the Bastille.
He has dubbed his rally a showcase of “real work”.
Francois Hollande said Nicolas Sarkozy was more the president of “real unemployment”.
The main May Day rally in Spain is expected to get under way in Madrid at about 11:00 a.m., while Portugal’s labor unions will rally in the afternoon.
In Russia, nationalists, communists and opponents of incoming president Vladimir Putin are all holding separate rallies.
Vladimir Putin and outgoing President Dmitry Medvedev made a rare joint public appearance on the streets of Moscow, leading more than 100,000 people in a Soviet-style “Holiday of Labor and Spring” march.
The Occupy movement has called for global protests against economic inequality.
The movement gained international attention with the Occupy Wall Street protest last September but has struggled to maintain its profile as its supporters began to be evicted from public squares across the US.
An Occupy statement said: “The Occupy Movement has called for A Day Without the 99% on May 1st, 2012,” referring to its slogan that the wealthy 1% rules over a powerless 99%.
Its main rally will be in New York in the afternoon rush hour.
The Occupy movement in San Francisco called for a Golden Gate Bridge protest.
It said: “This May Day we look forward to seeing strong, powerful picket lines, unlike anything the Golden Gate Bridge bosses have seen before.”
Rallies have already taken place across Asia, including:
• In Hong Kong, about 5,000 workers marched demanding a rise in the minimum wage
• In Jakarta, Indonesia, more than 9,000 workers marched to the state palace calling for better pay and job protection
• In Manila, the Philippines, some 8,000 workers rallied near the Malacanang palace to call for pay increases
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Anti-government protesters in the Czech Republic have staged what they describe as the biggest rally since the fall of communism in 1989.
Demonstrators say 120,000 people packed the capital Prague, protesting against austerity measures and corruption. Police put the numbers at 90,000.
Echoing 1989, people jangled their keys – a signal to the centre-right coalition cabinet to lock up and leave.
The government has recently been rocked by splits and defections.
It is no longer clear if the coalition of Prime Minister Petr Necas commands a majority in parliament.
Anti-government protesters in the Czech Republic have staged what they describe as the biggest rally since the fall of communism in 1989
On Saturday, the protesters – including many pensioners and students – marched through Prague, gathering in Wenceslas Square – the heart of the capital.
Chanting and whistling, they carried banners which read “Stop thieves!” and “Away with the government!”
Rene Koncilova, one of the marchers, said she was struggling to survive on her monthly $350 disability pension.
“Vaclav Klaus [current president] told us in 1989 that we had to tighten our belts, and the country became anorexic,” she said.
“Fortunately, doctors managed to cure it, but now they’re asking us to tighten our belts again. I think we’ll all be anorexic before long.”
Czech government says there is no alternative to cuts in public spending and tax rises if the country is to avoid the fate of debt-ridden Greece.
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New clashes between Greek protesters and riot police took place in Athens, hours after a pensioner shot himself dead outside parliament.
The 77-year-old man killed himself in the city’s busy Syntagma Square on Wednesday morning.
Greek media reported he had left a suicide note accusing the government of cutting his pension to nothing.
Flowers have been laid at the spot where he died and tributes have been paid online.
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered in the square outside parliament on Wednesday evening, the scene of many large protests in recent months.
Violence erupted, with petrol bombs hurled at police, who fired tear gas in response.
New clashes between Greek protesters and riot police took place in Athens, hours after a pensioner shot himself dead outside parliament
Depression and suicides are reported to have increased in Greece as the country introduces tough austerity measures to deal with huge debts.
The man has not been officially identified but was named in Greek media as Dimitris Christoulas. He was said to be a retired chemist, with a wife and a daughter, who had sold his pharmacy in 1994.
The man shot himself in the central square just before 09:00, Athens News reports.
In the alleged suicide note, found by police and reported by Athens News, he said: “The government has annihilated all traces for my survival, which was based on a very dignified pension that I alone paid for 35 years with no help from the state.
“And since my advanced age does not allow me a way of dynamically reacting… I see no other solution than this dignified end to my life, so I don’t find myself fishing through garbage cans for my sustenance.”
Dozens of people left handwritten messages and flowers at the spot where Dimitris Christoulas killed himself.
One of the notes, pinned to the tree, read “Enough is enough”, while another said “Who will be the next victim?”
Later, as night fell, the demonstrations degenerated into clashes as activists threw rocks and petrol bombs at police, who responded with tear gas and flash grenades.
Prime Minister Lucas Papademos issued a statement calling the death “tragic”.
“In these difficult hours for our society we must all – the state and the citizens – support the people among us who are desperate.”
Government spokesman Pantelis Kapsis called the suicide a “human tragedy” but said “the exact circumstances” were unknown.
Evangelos Venizelos, head of the socialist Pasok party that holds a majority in the coalition government, called on colleagues to refrain from “political commentary” and “show solidarity and togetherness”.
Antonis Samaras, head of the conservative New Democracy party, said politicians must do more to “help Greeks escape from despair”.
Drastic austerity measures have been imposed on Greece to meet the terms of a huge eurozone financial bailout needed to save the country from bankruptcy.
Thousands of civil service jobs have been cut, taxes raised and there have been reductions in pay, benefits and pensions.
Suicides increased by 18% in 2010 from the previous year, according to Reuters news agency. The number of suicides in Athens alone rose over 25% last year.
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Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc has resigned today in order to “defuse political and social tension” after more than three weeks of protests against austerity measures.
Speaking after a cabinet meeting, PM Emil Boc said he had given up the government’s mandate as “it is the moment for important political decisions”.
Although Romania’s economy grew last year, the government has been hit by three weeks of demonstrations.
Emil Boc government has imposed a 25% cut in public sector wages and a freeze on pensions.
Sales tax was also increased to 24%, in a country seen as Europe’s second poorest.
Romania needs to implement the measures to qualify for the next installment of 20 billion Euros ($25 billion) bailout loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc has resigned today in order to "defuse political and social tension" after more than three weeks of protests against austerity measures
In a statement, Emil Boc, 45, said that in a time of crisis, his centrist government had not taken part in a popularity contest but had acted to save the country.
“I know that I made difficult decisions, but the fruits have begun to appear,” PM Emil Boc said.
Elections in Romania are scheduled to take place in November and there is speculation that President Traian Basescu may seek to appoint a technocrat-led government until the vote.
Protests broke out last month, initially against the resignation of popular junior health minister Raed Arafat, but soon became an expression of discontent against austerity and corruption.
The left-wing opposition USL alliance, headed by Victor Ponta and Crin Antonescu, leaders of Social Democrat Party and Liberal Party, is currently leading the opinion polls. Victor Ponta suggested last week that Romania should either have early elections similar to Spain, or temporarily install a technocrat administration, like Italy.
Silvio Berlusconi has resigned as Italian prime minister.
President Giorgio Napolitano is likely to accept his offer and appoint Mario Monti, a technocrat, as his successor.
Silvio Berlusconi lost his majority amid an acute debt crisis that threatens the eurozone. He promised to go once MPs had approved new austerity mesasures.
Silvio Berlusconi is Italy’s longest-serving post-WWII PM – having dominated political life for 17 years. His premiership has recently been marred by many scandals.
Silvio Berlusconi has resigned as Italian prime minister
Crowds gathered outside the parliament, shouting “Resign” and “Bye bye Silvio”. Later, groups outside the president’s and prime minister’s offices shouted abuse, calling Silvio Berlusconi a “buffoon”.
Silvio Berlusconi said he felt “embittered” after hearing the insults.
After losing his parliamentary majority on Tuesday, Silvio Berlusconi promised to resign after austerity measures, demanded by the EU and designed to restore markets’ confidence in the country’s economy, were passed by both houses of parliament.
Members of the lower house voted 380-26 with two abstentions on Saturday, a day after the Senate approved the measures that have now been signed into law.
After accepting Silvio Berlusconi’s resignation, Giorgio Napolitano is expected to formally ask Mario Monti or another candidate to form a government of technocrats.
Italy’s leaders are desperate to signal that they can bring the country’s finances under control and they are moving fast.
Mario Monti, a well respected economist, is exactly the sort of man that the money markets would like to see take charge at this time of crisis, but there is significant opposition to him within the country.
The austerity package foresees 59.8 billion euros in savings from a mixture of spending cuts and tax rises, with the aim of balancing the budget by 2014.
Measures include:
* An increase in VAT, from 20% to 21%
* A freeze on public-sector salaries until 2014
* The retirement age for women in the private sector will gradually rise, from 60 in 2014 until it reaches 65 in 2026, the same age as for men
* Measures to fight tax evasion will be strengthened, including a limit of 2,500 euros on cash transactions
* There will be a special tax on the energy sector
On Wednesday, the interest rate on 10-year Italian government bonds touched 7%, the rate at which Greece, Ireland and Portugal were forced to seek bailouts from the EU.
An EU team has begun work in Rome, monitoring how Italy plans to cut its crushing debt burden, 120% of annual economic output (GDP).
The Italian economy has grown at an average of 0.75% a year over the past 15 years.
Silvio Berlusconi has been prime minister three times since he first took office in 1994. He has described himself as Italy’s best head of government since the country was created nearly 150 years ago.
Silvio Berlusconi is currently involved in several trials for fraud, corruption and having sex with an under-age girl, and has attracted media attention for so-called “bunga-bunga” parties which young women were allegedly paid to attend.
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The lower house of Italy’s parliament voted in favour of austerity measures package demanded by the EU and designed to restore markets’ confidence in the country’s economy.
Silvio Berlusconi has promised to resign as prime minister after the vote is passed.
A technocrat government led by ex-EU commissioner Mario Monti seems likely.
The Senate on Friday backed the plan, which includes a rise in VAT and the pension age, a fuel price hike and also the sale of state assets.
Following that vote, shares in most European markets rose 2-3%, and the interest rate paid on Italy’s 10-year bonds dropped.
International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde has welcomed the “significant progress” made in tackling the political crisis in Italy and Greece, where interim Prime Minister Lucas Papademos was sworn in at the head of a new cabinet on Friday.
“What we wanted at the IMF was political stability and a clear policy in both countries. I believe significant progress has been made,” Christine Lagarde said on Saturday during a visit to Tokyo.
Silvio Berlusconi, who survived a lost his parliamentary majority in a vote on Tuesday, promised to resign after the austerity measures are passed by both houses of parliament
Silvio Berlusconi, who survived a lost his parliamentary majority in a vote on Tuesday, promised to resign after the austerity measures are passed by both houses of parliament.
On Thursday, President Giorgio Napolitano – whose role is largely ceremonial – said he wished to “dispel any doubt or misunderstanding” on when the prime minister would fulfil his promise to resign.
Giorgio Napolitano could accept Silvio Berlusconi’s resignation as early as Saturday evening.
The president could then formally ask Mario Monti or another candidate to form a government of technocrats.
Italy’s leaders are desperate to signal that they can bring the country’s finances under control and they are moving fast.
Mario Monti, a well respected economist, is exactly the sort of man that the money markets would like to see take charge at this time of crisis.
The austerity package foresees 59.8 billion euros in savings from a mixture of spending cuts and tax rises, with the aim of balancing the budget by 2014.
Measures include:
* An increase in VAT, from 20% to 21%
* A freeze on public-sector salaries until 2014
* The retirement age for women in the private sector will gradually rise, from 60 in 2014 until it reaches 65 in 2026, the same age as for men
* Measures to fight tax evasion will be strengthened, including a limit of 2,500 euros on cash transactions
* There will be a special tax on the energy sector
On Wednesday, the interest rate on 10-year Italian government bonds touched 7%, the rate at which Greece, Ireland and Portugal were forced to seek bailouts from the EU.
An EU team has begun work in Rome, monitoring how Italy plans to cut its crushing debt burden, 120% of annual economic output (GDP).
The Italian economy has grown at an average of 0.75% a year over the past 15 years.
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