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December 2008 Bibliography
Amnesty International. 2009. Alleged abuses in the policing of demonstrations. Amnesty International
Andronikidou, A and Kouvas, I. 2012. Cultures of Rioting and Anti-Systemic Politics in Southern Europe. West European Politics. 35(4): 707-725
Apoifis, N. 2017. Anarchy in Athens: An Ethnography of Militancy, Emotions and Violence. Manchester University Press
Close, D. 2009. The Riots of December 2008: Their Causes in Historical and International Contexts. In M. Rossetto, M. Tsianikas, G. Couvalis and M. Palaktsoglou (Eds.) “Greek Research in Australia:
Proceedings of the Eighth Biennial International Conference of Greek Studies,
Flinders University June 2009″. Flinders University Department of Languages – Modern Greek: Adelaide, 134-144.Dalakoglou, D. 2013. The Crisis before the The Crisis: Violence and Urban Neoliberalism in Athens. Social Justice, Vol.39 No. 1
della Porta, D and Gbikpi, B. 2012. The Riots: A Dynamic View. 87-100 in Seferiades, S and Johnston, H ed. Violent Protest, Contentious Politics, and the Neoliberal State. Ashgate
Douzinas, C. 2013. Philosophy and Resistance in the Crisis. Polity
Economides, S and Monastiriotis, V. ed. 2009. The Return of Street Politics. The Hellenic Observatory, LSE.
Johnston, H and Seferiades, S. 2012. The Greek December, 2008. 149-156 in Seferiades, S and Johnston, H ed. Violent Protest, Contentious Politics, and the Neoliberal State. Ashgate
Kalyvas.A. 2010. An Anomaly? Some Reflections on the Greek December 2008. Constellations. 17(2): 351-365
Kanellopoulos, K. 2012. The Accidental Eruption of an Anarchist Protest. 171-181 in Seferiades, S and Johnston, H ed. Violent Protest, Contentious Politics, and the Neoliberal State. Ashgate
Kitis, D.E. 2015. The anti-authoritarian choros: a space for youth socialization and radicalisation in Greece 1979-2010. Journal for the Study of Radicalism. Vol.9, No.1, 1-36
Kotronaki, L and Seferiades, S. 2010. Sur le sentries de la colère: L’espece-temps d’une révolte (Athènes, décembre 2008). Actuel Marx, 48
Kotronaki, L and Seferiades, S. 2012. Along the Pathways of Rage: The Space-Time of an Uprising. 157-170 in Seferiades, S and Johnston, H ed. Violent Protest, Contentious Politics, and the Neoliberal State. Ashgate
Kornetis, K. 2010. No More Heroes? Rejection and reverberation of the past in the 2008 events in Greece. Journal of Modern Greek Studies. Vol.28, No.2. 173-197
Kornetis, K. 2011. “Grèce Générale”? Exploring the Boundaries Between Past and Present, the Local and the Transnational in the December 2008 Events in Greece. Revue belge de philologie et d’histoire, 89,3-4. 1351-1363
Lountos, N. 2012. Radical Minorites, a Decade of Contention and the Greek December 2008. 183-191. in Seferiades, S and Johnston, H ed. Violent Protest, Contentious Politics, and the Neoliberal State. Ashgate
Papanikolopoulos, D. 2016. Dekemvris 2008. Oi Edoseis ton Synadelfon
Pechtelidis, Y. 2011. December uprising 2008: universality and particularity in young people’s discourse. Journal of Youth Studies. 14:4, 449-462
Pourgouris, M. 2010. The Phenomenology of Hoods: Some Reflections on the 2008 Violence in Greece. 22-245. Journal of Modern Greek Studies. Vol.28 No.2.
Sakellaropoulos, S. 2012. On the Causes and Significance of the December 2008 Social Explosion in Greece. Science & Society. Vol.76, No.3, 340-364
Schwarz, A.G et al. 2010. We Are An Image of the Future. AK Press
Sotiris, P. 2013. Reading revolt as deviance: Greek intellectuals and the December 2008 revolt of Greek youth. Interface. Vol. 5, No.2. 47-77
Theodosiadis, M. 2015. The Greek December Revolt and its Current Relevance. Perspectives on Anarchist Theory. [Online] 8th April 2015
Vradis, A and Dalakoglou, D ed. 2011. Revolt and Crisis in Greece: Between a Present Yet to Pass and a Future Yet to Come. AK Press
Xenakis,S and Cheliotis,L. 2016. Glocal Disorder: Causes, Conduct and Consequences of the 2008 Greek Unrest. European Journal of Criminology, 13 (5). pp. 639-656
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December 2008: The Trial
The calls for justice over the murder of Alexis were a persistent theme in December. One of the causes of the revolt was the history of police violence which the murder recalled and continued. An aspect of this was the belief that police crimes rarely receive proportional punishment. In this case there was the risk that a significant part of the police, judiciary and media would rally around the story that the two officers came under sustained attack and in a life threatening situation shot into the air with only an unforeseeable deflection responsible for Alexis’ death. Once the revolt was over a key question was whether any sense of justice would prevail.
The trial of Epaminondas Korkoneas and Vassilis Saraliotis was originally set to begin in late 2009. Given the importance of the trial it was decided it could not be held in or around Athens for fear of protests. In the end it was not until January 2010 that the trial got underway in Amfissa. Having fired the shots Korkoneas was charged with intentional homicide with intent while his partner faced charges of complicity. Over the following ten months Korkoneas maintained that he fired because he believed his life was in danger, his apologies were often guarded and presented himself as equally a victim. Halfway through the trial both officers were released as they had served the maximum eighteen month period of detention.
Ultimately Korkoneas’ story did not hold up. Witnesses reported that he fired directly towards Alexis and saw little in the argument between the officers and the boys that put the lives of the two armed men in danger. Ballistic evidence also indicated that the shots were directed towards the boys. Testimony from higher ranking officers stated that the Korkoneas and Saraliotis should not have proceeded alone to force a confrontation. After 84 sessions running from February to September the verdicts were announced in October 2010. Korkoneas was found guilty of intentionally murdering Alexis and sentenced to life. Saraliotis received a 10 year sentence for complicity. Essentially the court decided that what happened on 6th December 2008 was not an accident provoked by a large and dangerous attack on the police but an act of intentional violence by the officers.
While Saraliotis and Korkoneas were taken to prison following the sentences the story does not end there. Saraliotis served little more than a year of his sentence before being released and it was not until March 2013 that a long delayed disciplinary hearing finally saw the two dismissed from the police and the force’s payroll. As is their right the two officers appealed against their convictions starting a new process which was originally intended to begin in 2014. Due to large scale strike action among the judiciary the appeal trial took several years. Throughout the process Korkoneas maintained his prior attitude of portraying himself as a victim. Midway through the appeal in 2017 Korkoneas high-profile and controversial defence lawyer Alexis Kougias resigned following a statement from his client that he would not apologise for the death of a 15 year old anti-authoritarian.
In July 2019 the appeal trial ended with the reduction of Korkoneas’ sentence from life to 13 years and the overturning of Saraliotis’ conviction for complicity. Though still considered guilty of murder the alleged mitigating factor of a prior life without conviction allowed Korkoneas to be quickly released from prison. Naturally this decision sparked outrage and both appeals within the justice system and protests on the streets. Korkoneas was briefly returned to prison when the verdict was referred back to the appeals courts in Lamia but the mitigating factor which granted him release was ultimately upheld. Release based on prior good conduct was difficult for many people to accept. Immediately after the murder Korkoneas was portrayed as a dangerous figure and a rogue officer, a rambo of Exarcheia as he was called. Though this did not stop him being decorated and promoted by the police prior to the murder. During the trials he had never really accepted responsibility for his actions and maintained the murder was an accident that had badly affected himself. At the time of writing Korkoneas remains free having served just under 11 years for the murder of a 15 year old.
For many the early release of Alexis’ killer only confirmed an issue which was at the heart of the December Revolt. Those who reacted to Alexis’ death also had in mind a history of police violence. For every case there was a story of impunity or light treatment for the guilty police officers. This demonstrated the belief that the state looked after its own and justice is based on your proximity to power. Few will see the 11 years Korkoneas served as a just response to the murder of an unarmed teenager. Instead Alexis’ death and the treatment of his murderer will be added to the history of violence which helped provoke the revolt of December 2008.
The Early Statements and Witnesses
‘Nikos R’ eyewitness statement: http://libcom.org/library/eyewitness-statement-killing
Eyewitness:
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/945884/
http://www.tovima.gr/politics/article/?aid=246278&wordsinarticle=2008
Ballistics: https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/343855/exostrakismo-deichnei-i-vallistiki-ereyna/
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/183880/to-porisma-tis-ballistikis
Reaction of the Police and Interior Ministry: https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/185282/anakoinosi-tis-astunomias-gia-to-aimatiro-epeisodio-sta-eksarxeia
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/185271/p-paulopoulos-oi-enoxoi-tha-timorithoun-paradeigmatika
Korkoneas gives his story: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/940384/
Profile of Korkoneas: http://www.kathimerini.gr/343382/article/epikairothta/ellada/epameinwndas-korkoneas-eyfhmo-mneia-eixe-parei-o-rampo-twn-e3arxeiwn
The First Trial
9/10/2009-trial date set: https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/230619/stis-1512-i-diki-gia-to-thanato-tou-al-grigoropoulou
9/11/2009-trial to be in Amfissa: https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/226587/reios-pagos-stin-mfissa-i-diki-gia-to-thanato-tou-al-grigoropoulou
20/1/2010-Trial starts: https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/307223/arxizei-aurio-i-diki-gia-ti-dolofonia-grigoropoulou
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/306661/arnountai-tis-katigories-korkoneas-saraliotis
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2010/1/22/greek-police-deny-killing-teenager
https://libcom.org/article/alexandros-grigoropoulos-murder-trial-opens
29/1/2010- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/306585/stis-291-i-sunexeia-tis-dikis-gia-to-thanato-grigoropoulou
19/2/2010- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/302908/al-kougias-to-thuma-epligi-deuterogenos
29/3/2010- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/298079/sunexizetai-i-diki-korkonea-saralioti
30/3/2010- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/297833/diki-korkonea-nea-katathesi-apo-autopti-martura
31/3/2010- https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/68041/witness-says-officer-shot-at-grigoropoulos/
http://actforfreedomnow.blogspot.com/2010/04/letter-from-17yearold-witness-of-alexis_4661.html
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/68131/grigoropoulos-friend-disappears/
23/4/2010- https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/68340/policeman-s-parents-apologize/
10/7/2010- https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/69266/teen-killer-tells-court-he-is-sorry/
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/284645/apologia-ep-korkonea
14/7/2010- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/283962/apologia-bsaralioti-gia-to-moiraio-bradu-tis-6is122008
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/69321/policeman-tells-of-teen-s-death/amp/
5/8/2010- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/281199/diki-korkonea-saralioti-i-ora-tou-eisaggelea
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/281182/purobolise-se-iremi-psuxiki-katastasi
10/10/2010- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/273280/ti-deutera-i-apofasi-gia-ti-dolofonia-grigoropoulou
11/10/2010- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/273242/enoxos-xoris-elafruntika-o-ep-korkoneas
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/273216/enoxos-xoris-elafruntika-kai-o-bsaraliotis
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-11513309
https://libcom.org/article/greek-police-officer-convicted-alexandros-murder
The Appeal Trial and Release
20/3/2013- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/629116/apotassontai-korkoneas-saraliotis
9/4/2014- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/792155/anablithike-i-diki-korkonea-gia-ti-dolofonia-grigoropoulou
11/3/2015- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/925070/anablithike-i-diki-ton-korkonea-saralioti
3/2/2017- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1201127/paraitithike-o-kougias-apo-tin-uperaspisi-korkonea
14/3/2019- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1453802/stis-26-martiou-i-sunexisi-tis-dikis-tou-ep-korkonea
30/7/2019- https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/243141/korkoneas-released-from-domokos-prison/
-Protests greet release: https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/243192/protest-rally-against-grigoropoulos-killers-release-marred-by-violence/
https://www.skai.gr/news/greece/dyo-syllipseis-gia-ta-epeisodia-sta-eksarxeia
-Nikos Romanos’ response: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/1599366/
2/8/2019- https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1503486/eisaggeliki-parembasi-gia-tin-apofulakisi-ep-korkonea
22/9/2020- https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/257256/policeman-who-killed-grigoropoulos-could-be-retried/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1180106/ex-police-officer-back-behind-bars-over-teen-killing/
28/6/2022- https://www.keeptalkinggreece.com/2022/06/28/korkoneas-alexis-grigoropoulos-murderer-walks-free/
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1187808/ex-cop-convicted-over-2008-teen-killing-to-be-released/
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December 2008: The Texts of the Anarchists and Anti-Authoritarians
The events of December 2008 have often been dismissed as a series of riots with little political content. Those on the streets have been ignored, maligned or criticised for only expressing anger rather than making coherent demands. This view is only really tenable if the words of December’s participants are ignored. For while it is true that few demands were made of the government the ideas, fears, hopes and motivations of the streets were clearly and repeatedly expressed and a wealth of texts and statements published.
Every occupation, anarchist and anti-authoritarian group, student’s collective and assembly wrote and circulated multiple texts during this month. Almost every action was accompanied by an explanation. These would have not have circulated widely but they were easily available on sites such as Athens Indymedia which became prominent at this time. Gathered here is a sample of these texts. The sample is drawn mostly from the pages of Indymedia and limited to the texts produced at the time. As the anarchists and anti-authoritarians themselves pointed out the December Revolt was not all about them but they were key to the uprising. Therefore any understanding of these events has to start with their positions and how they shaped the revolt.
As these texts were created by different groups some of whom were explicitly anarchist and anti-authoritarian and others of a mixed composition there was a variety of opinion expressed. However, there are a number of common themes on the causes and participants of the revolt.
The murder of Alexis Grigoropoulos was of course the cause of the revolt but it is frequently pointed out that this was just the spark, or, as the commonly used phrase has it, the drop that made the glass overflow. This was more than just a reaction to one murder. Many texts point out that Alexis was only the latest victim of police violence. The period of reference here, and indeed the December Revolt as a whole, is the so-called Metapolitefsi the era since the 1974 fall of military dictatorship. Though viewed as an era of peace in contrast to the decades of conflict and tension that preceded it numerous people had died at the hands of the democratic republic. The victims ranged from protesters killed at demonstrations in the late 70s, a teacher murdered during an education movement in the 90s, guerillas fallen in battle, and migrants killed on the borders and in police stations. The most obvious parallel was with Michailis Kaltezas another 15 year old murdered by the police in Exarcheia in 1985.
“In the barricades, the university occupations, the demonstrations and the assemblies we keep alive the memory of Alexandros, but also the memory of Michalis Kaltezas and of all the comrades who were murdered by the state, strengthening the struggle for a world without masters and slaves, without police, armies, prisons and borders.”
Statement of the Assembly of the Occupied Polytechnic
Added to this history of violence was a belief that the repressive abilities of the state had been growing in recent years. The increasing police presence around Exarcheia, the upgrading of the security apparatus as part of the 2004 Olympic Games and the drafting of new anti-terrorist legislation were all seen as steps that led up to December. Nor did the anarchists and anti-authoritarians see themselves as the only, or even main, target. A number of cases of the deaths or injury of immigrants, both new arrivals and second generation, were said to demonstrate the racist nature of this violence. Many of the younger generation, such as Alexis, had moved toward street movements in recent years thanks to a long series of protests against education reforms in 2006-7 which saw extensive clashes with the police. The latest murder in Exarcheia was perceived as primarily that; the latest in a string of events.
“This bullet caused the overflow of the glass of youth anger which is not blind but stems from policies in education, work, democratic rights and the environment. Ultimately from the exploitation system itself.”
Announcement of the coordination of general assemblies and occupations of Heraklio
The economy as a factor was particularly present in foreign reporting but only given secondary importance in the texts of December. There was an awareness that a global financial crisis was getting underway and a few texts see their events as only the beginning of a larger crisis. It was more the functioning of the economy rather than its current ailing state that was targetted. There is a clear criticism of consumerism in the voices of December. The well functioning consumer economy which creates and serves material desires is seen as worthy of destruction. There’s a kind of desperate hope that the shattering of store windows and the burning of commercial centres will break the illusion of the consumerist dream the economy had lulled people into. Just behind the police, state buildings and banks in the list of targets were the store fronts of the shopping districts, especially those of multi-nation companies. This was expressed from beginning to end with a raid on Athens’ principal commercial street of Ermou at the start of the events and the peaceful march through The Mall being one of the last actions. The years of neoliberal reforms, the bank rescue package and the bleak prospects of the €700 generation made appearances in the texts of December but the nature of the economy when it was functioning were more important.
“Up until the Saturday night of 06/12/08 we could say that “jusqu’ ici tout va bien”, watching everyone’s personal fall into the desert of the capitalist system. Then the crash came, and the destructive madness seized large parts of the youth of the country.
We are part of the revolt of life against the daily death the existing social relations impose on us.
The insurrection of December didn’t put out any concrete demands, exactly because the participating subjects daily experience, and therefore know the denial of the ruling class to meet any such demand.
We do everything within our reach not to abandon the occupations and the streets, because we don’t want to go home. We get miserable and unhappy with the “realistic” thought that sooner or later we will have to return to normality. We get full of joy with the thought that we are in the beginning of a historical process of enlivenment of class struggle, and that if we want to, if we fight for it, if we believe in it, it can lead us out of the crisis, into the revolutionary getaway from the system.”
Proletarians from the occupied ASOEE- We Destroy the Present because we come from the Future
Another point of frequent agreement is over who was on the streets. The anarchists and anti-authoritarians did not try to claim the events as solely of their own making or under their banner. It was acknowledged that a variety of people had taken to the streets and were moving events forward. The anarchists were easily able to point out the contradictions of one of the dismissive media narratives. The violence of the riots was often ascribed to a few dozen hard-core elements on the margins of otherwise peaceful demonstrations. Yet these small groups would have to have been spread pretty thinly as events were often taking place simultaneously at multiple points around the country.
While pointing out that they were not such a small minority the anarchists rarely claimed to be a social majority either. There were of course groups that explicitly presented themselves as proletarians and representatives of the working-class in the traditional language of leftist and revolutionary currents but generally the participants of the revolt were said to be a collection of different groups. Alongside the anarchists on the streets were the youth, the second generation immigrants, and elements of the working-class and the exploited in general. Naturally, the youth- the high-school and university students- were seen as the main drivers of events. In the few short weeks available to them these different groups did not come together to form one collective subject that could speak to the state. Nor on the anarchist and anti-authoritarian side was there any sign of a desire for the formation of such a new collective.
“Traditional ideologies are bankrupt and people are becoming more and more aware of it. A true liberation of politics and social life goes through the marginalisation of all existing parties, the creation of new forms of political organisation based on the participation of all, the responsibility of everyone towards common affairs – in few words, the rebirth of true political thought and passions.”
Proclamation shared in Halkida from groups on Evia
There is of course a tension in the anarchist and anti-authoritarian texts that could not be resolved in the moment. The anarchists were clear sighted enough not to see their events as a revolution. There was a hope occasionally expressed that with a global crisis breaking December was only the beginning. This, however, was more often than not posed as a kind of challenge that would have to be met in the future. One of the most repeated lines from the revolt stated that December was a question. While the anarchists did not pretend to be a social majority any future progress would depend on them reaching out to society at large. Yet, there is an anti-social tendency that explicitly or implicitly runs through the texts. The state and capital are the enemy but there is criticism of the society that upholds them. The critic of consumerism targets aspects of most people’s daily lives. Older generations of activists are called out for abandoning their dreams and giving up. The people on the streets are the outcasts, rebels or victims of society.
It is not entirely true that the people on the streets in December never formulated any demands. Beyond the commonly repeated formula calling for the downfall of the regime of murderers there was no programme emerging from the events. While this is to be expected the lack of demands was seen as a point to attack the uprising. This criticism is used to dismiss the events as just a violent outburst that did not have a politics of its own.
As they do not believe the state to be legitimate anarchists rarely address any demands to it. Given that demands are a the standard process of politics within the state it is something the anarchists are often criticised for. The texts of December do though raise a series of demands. Naturally these focus on the police violence which triggered the uprising. Immediately there are the demands that the murderers be punished and the arrested of the revolt released. The security apparatus that had grown over recent years should be dismantled. This was often expressed in the call to disband the riot police and disarm the force in general as well as repealing the recent anti-terrorism laws. A few texts expand this to call for the repealing of the neoliberal eduction measures taken earlier by the Karamanlis government. These demands do address one of the key causes of the revolt, police violence, but were ignored largely without discussion by the state and political establishment.
The texts of December explain why there was such anger at the police and why so many were ready to confront them in the streets. They explain why when the police were pushed back shops and banks were attacked, looted and burnt. They explain why with multiple groups on the streets there was no desire or ability for a single representative or party to speak for the insurgents. For the anarchists and anti-authoritarians what had begun was not the sudden emergence of issues with the Greek state and global capitalism but an overdue reaction to long existing tensions. In short, the texts produced during December are key to explaining the course of events. When they poured onto the streets on December 6th the anarchists and anti-authoritarians had a clear set of motivations and targets and were able to articulate these numerous times throughout the coming month. These ideas lay behind their actions. These actions were in turn imitated by those who came onto the streets. December was an outburst of anger but far from being blind the form this outburst took was shaped by anarchist and anti-authoritarian beliefs.
Texts of the Anarchist and Anti-Authoritarian Space
Below are a sample of the texts and statements produced in and around December 2008. The are mostly published on the Athens Indymedia site which was the most popular forum at the time. They consists of texts and statements published by established groups or the newly formed assemblies and occupations as well as a variety of statements produced for distribution at demonstrations or comments by individuals. The texts are generally in Greek with those available in English translation indicated by ENG.
Anti-Authoritarian Movement Athens–The State Murders– 7/12: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/933934/
Text From the North—8/12: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/935560/
Press release from the assembly of the occupied Law School—8/12: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/935525/
Polytechnic Occupation Statement—9/12-ENG
http://libcom.org/news/athens-polytechnic-occupation-publishes-communique-09122008
VOID Network – How to Organize an Insurrection – 25/12 – ENG
https://voidnetwork.gr/2009/01/14/how-to-organize-an-insurrection-questions-thoughts-and- answers-about-the-social-inssurection-in-greece-in-december-2008/
https://fr.crimethinc.com/2008/12/25/how-to-organize-an-insurrection
Dimitris Koufondinas— We are with the insurgent youth – 11/12: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/941105/
Theatre School Occupation, Thessaoloniki [9/12]-11/12–ENG:
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/939831/
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/939280/
Anti-Authoritarian Movement Athens The Struggle Continues-11/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/940115/
Anarchist Social Intervention In Cold Blood-11/12:
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/940609/
Parartimenos Occupation, Patra-11/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/940882/
6 days on the streets and barricades-11/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/941488/
For Alexis-11/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/941454/
Network for Civil and Social Rights-No Justice, No Peace-12/12-[9/12]-ENG
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/941947/
Assembly of Western Neighbourhoods-Nothing is Over, We are at the Beginning-12/12-GR/ENG
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/941872/
Anarchist for Social Liberation-Announcement-12/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/942310/
Announcement of Student Resistance-12/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/942042/
Text of the Polytechnic Assembly-12/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/942620/
Union of Workers and Okane Prevention and Self-Management Centres –The Little Alexis and the Great Alexanders-12/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/943611/
Assembly against Disinformation-Counter-Information Text from Kozani-12/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/943639/
Manifesto for the Times we Live in-14/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/944303/
Announcement of the coordination of general assemblies and occupations of Heraklio-14/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/944578/
Initiative of Anarchists and Anti-Authoritarians from Southern Athens-14/12[10/12]-ENG
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/944668/
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/938550/
Surrealist Group of Athens-14/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/945570/
Text from the occupation of the former Town Hall in Halandri-14/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/945179/
Letter from the friends of Alexis to the Media-10/12-ENG
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/939012/
Dekemvriana-10/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/939459/
Steki of Albanian Migrants-These Days are our Days too-15/12-ENG
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/946337/
http://clandestinenglish.wordpress.com/2008/12/19/our-share-of-these-days/
Anarchists and Anti-Authoritarians, Heraklio, Crete-15/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/946283/
Announcement of the liberated Galaxia building, Nea Symrni-15/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/946713/
Proletarians-A Letter to Students-17/12-ENG
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/948105/
General Assembly of the Occupied Aristotle University of Thessaloniki- The Murder was just the Excuse-17/12-ENG
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/948859/
Proletarians from the occupied ASOEE- We Destroy the Present because we come from the Future-18/12-ENG
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/949735/
Why I’m with the Koukouloforous-20/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/951347/
From Riot to Social Rebellion -ENG
Text of the popular assembly of Syeon-15/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/945991/
Occupation of the Theatre Studies Department of Naufplio-16/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/947829/
Occupation of a radio station in Sparta-18/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/950127/
From Direct Action (100) to Direct Democracy (10000000)-29/12
http://omniasuntcommunianetcollective.blogspot.com/2008/12/100-10000000.html
State of Rebellion-24/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/955287/
Open letter of support for the uprising in Greece-26/12-ENG
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/956034/
Initiative of the Residents of Kalamaria-The December that Marked Us-25/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/955764/
Student Vandals with a Conscience-These Nights are For Alexis-28/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/957253/
Texts from Kozani
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/958439/
For the Gathering at the Mall-29/12
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/957737/
Proclamation shared in Halkida from groups on Evia – 1/1
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Wednesday 24th December – Wednesday 31st December 2008
It can be said that the December Revolt came to an end with the beginning of the holiday season. While correct this is not entirely true. During the week between Christmas and New Year’s Eve there were few major events and the country settled down into a delayed festive calm but here and there the peace was disturbed. A number of small demonstrations and occupations continued though most activity on the streets focused on solidarity with Palestine which was at this time under attack from Israeli forces. The trend of minor arson and sabotage attacks continued without a break. Indeed if anything the attacks intensified with several unconnected attacks reported around the country.
This relative lull would be temporary and many of the actions and meetings of this week were carried out to prepare for a series of larger demonstrations already announced for early January. The second common aim of actions at this point was solidarity with those arrested during the revolt. It was seen as important not to forget those held or charged during the holiday season.
Demonstrations
On Christmas Eve the occupation of the Polytechnic finally came to an end. As previously mentioned a number of the principal occupations ended their activity during these days. The gatherings that did take place on the streets in this week were often solidarity demonstrations for Palestine but a number of small local demonstrations continued as they had throughout the last few weeks. These were joined by demonstrations for Konstantina Kuneva. During one such march a group of police officers claimed to have been attacked by the marching cleaners.
An anarchist theme throughout December was to disturb the peace of consumerism that marks the Christmas period in the west. This was expressed clearly when a few dozen anarchists marched through The Mall shopping centre in northern Athens. Though the appearance of the anarchists in the shopping centre no doubt caused concern for some no damage was done and the demonstration passed off peacefully.
Another anarchist tradition in Greece is to mark the new year with gatherings outside the prisons. In the context of the revolt these gatherings were larger than normal and brought a reported 1,000 to the walls of Korydallos prison with smaller crowds making noise outside facilities in Patras, Hania and Heraklio.
Examples of demonstrations (24th):
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/954983/
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/955535/
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/956654/
Announcements of the Polytechnic occupation:
http://katalipsipolytexneiou.blogspot.com/2008/12/announcement-by-polytechnic-occupation.html
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/955367/
Protest at The Mall (29th):https://athens.indymedia.org/post/957737/
Demonstration of cleaners in solidarity with Konstantina Kuneva (29th): https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/183216/epithesi-omadas-katharistrion-se-astunomikous-ston-peiraia
Report from the New Year’s Eve prison demonstrations: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/959537/
Attacks
Since mid-December the number of low level night time attacks on state and capitalist targets had increased. This continued as the end of the year drew near. Christmas Eve was a good demonstration of the spread of this trend. Shortly after midnight a small device made of gas cannisters went off outside a bank on Athens’ coast. A few hours later similar devices caused damage at a car dealership and a building of the agriculture ministry. As different responsibility claims were issued in the following days it is likely these attacks were not coordinated. Before the year was out similar attacks had targetted a bank branch, a ministry vehicle, and an office of the governing party New Democracy.
Series of attacks in Athens (24th): https://www.france24.com/fr/20081225-attentat-engin-incendaire-athene-emeute-degat-materiel-grece
-Claims for the attacks: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/955733/
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/956985/
Attack on a bank (26th): https://www.france24.com/fr/20081226-cocktail-molotov-lance-contre-une-banque-a-athenes-
Ministry car burned (26th): http://www.hri.org/news/greek/apeen/2008/08-12-27.apeen.html
Attack on an ND office (28th): https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/183353/thessaloniki-epithesi-me-gkazakia-se-grafeia-tis-nd
End of the Year
The last few weeks had brought the year to a dramatic and for many people unexpected end. With a global financial crisis still raging and insurrection on the streets only just dying down there were few reasons to be optimistic though it is unlikely many anticipated the crisis that would unfolded over the next decade. Karamanlis’ new year’s message naturally tried to hit an optimistic and reassuring note but in hindsight appears delusional. Within a year his assertions that “our economy is proved more resilient compared to other countries thanks to the reforms implemented in recent years.” would be long forgotten.
Karamanlis’s end of year message: http://www.hri.org/news/greek/apeen/2008/08-12-31_3.apeen.html
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Tuesday 23rd December 2008
Shortly after the attack on Konstantina Kuneva another incident elsewhere in Athens pointed to a different trend. Already there had been an increase in the number of attacks on property using low level explosives or incendiary devices. In the coming months and years this would expand into a wave of guerilla activity. In the early hours of December 23rd several shots were fired at a bus of the riot police (MAT) marking a potential escalation in the uprising.
As one trend accelerated the events of December were winding down. After 18 days the assembly of the occupation of the Polytechnic declared their action was ending. A number of the most prominent occupations were now withdrawing as the holiday season was expected to limit further activity. Still, with just two days to go before Christmas a number of small marches took place in the centre of Athens and the neighbourhoods.
Demonstrations and news from the occupations
Protests in central Athens and news from the occupations: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/953929/
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/955334/
https://www.kathimerini.gr/society/344341/diadilotes-ekleisan-xana-to-kentro/
Local demonstration:
In Nea Philadelphia, Athens one of the local occupations called for a demonstration which gathered 2-300 people. After marching through the streets there was an exchange of objects and tear gas with the MAT in front of the local police station.
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/954426/
Minor attacks:
In Arta a bank was attacked with molotovs while in southern Athens an office of the far-right LAOS party suffered minor damage from a small incendiary device.
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/954405/
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/183568/epithesi-me-gkazakia-se-grafeia-tou-laos
Shooting of the MAT bus
At 05:50 a bus carrying 23 officers of the MAT was hit by a number of bullets as it moved out from its base in Goudi on its daily deployment. No one was injured though the bus was hit at least twice. Police later found seven 7.62mm bullets though the attacks claimed to have fired ten shots. Despite the proximity of a police base no one was caught following the well planned attack.
As the shots were fired from close to a large university campus the incident was quickly caught up in the debate over university asylum with some quarters calling for its immediate lifting so occupied campuses could be raided.
In the afternoon the website zougla.gr believed and published a call claiming the attack for an unknown group called Popular Action (Laiki Drasi-Λαϊκή Δράση). However, the real group behind the attack was revealed in January when Revolutionary Struggle (Epanastatikos Agonas-Επαναστατικός Αγώνας) published a proclamation taking responsibility for this attack and a further attack on the police in January 2009.
The anarchist group had become the most prominent guerilla organisation in recent years and would carry out a series of strikes as the crisis intensified. The proclamation stated that the attack was a response to the murder of Grigoropoulos and the implementation of a warning the group had given in 2007 to retaliate against the police should any murders take. Their January 2009 text saw the events of December as the end of social normality in Greece just as the state was heading for bankruptcy amid the global capitalist crisis. The group put forward their view that armed struggle was a necessary response to the crisis which was only going to grow and called for an increase in revolutionary organisations.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/7798439.stm
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/183581/purobolismoi-kata-kloubas-ton-mat
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/183480/epta-sfaires-dexthike-to-leoforeio-ton-mat
Τα νέα στοιχεία για το χτύπημα στην κλούβα των ΜΑΤ
-False Claim of 23/12/2008: https://www.zougla.gr/greece/article/emis-ktipisame-tin-klouva-ton-mat
-Revolutionary Struggles claim of January 2009: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/970521/
Όλη η προκήρυξη του Επαναστατικού Αγώνα
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Monday 22nd December 2008
As the debate around the potential storming of the universities and end of the occupations continued an event elsewhere in Athens would take the activity on the streets in a different direction into the new year. This was the brutal acid attack on the trade unionist and worker Konstantina Kuneva. Despite suffering terrible injuries from the attack Konstantina survived and the assault on a trade unionist sparked a solidarity campaign well into 2009. Many of the people who were on the streets, occupying public buildings, launching attacks or hold assemblies in December would do so again in January and February 2009 in solidarity with Kuneva and the mostly migrant workers she represented.
The case of Konstantina Kuneva
Around midnight on the night of 22nd-23rd December Konstantina Kuneva finished her cleaning shift at an ISAP train station and was heading home to the working class Athenian neighbourhood of Petralona. On the way she was stopped and attacked by two men who poured acid over her and forced her to drink it. The life threatening assault led to the lost of sight in one eye and severe damage to internal organs.
The viciousness of the assault would no doubt have made the news but there was never any indication of any personal motive. Instead this was seen from the start as a brutal attack on a trade unionist. Konstantina, 44, had been a union activist since 2002 have moved to Greece from Bulgaria. She served as the general secretary of the Attika Union of Cleaners and Domestic Workers (PEKOP). The union represented and fought for people like Konstantina, the working class, often migrant, domestic workers who form one of the frequently invisible social layers. The attack came as the union and Konstantina were in dispute with the cleaning company OIKOMET, owned by the PASOK member Nikitas Oikonomakis. With pay disputes ongoing and Konstantina receiving threats she had asked to be transferred from night to day shifts. This request was refused.
The state never manage to provide any justice for Kuneva. The attackers were never caught and court decisions awarding compensation were overturned. Immediately after the attack a broad solidarity movement emerged and was active into the new year. This movement continued the work of Kuneva and her union and shone a light on the often ignored migrant workers as well as supporting Kuneva herself while she lay in hospital between life and death. Instead of silencing the outspoken union activist the assault brought the workers’ conditions to public attention. Konstantina Kuneva would later go on to represent SYRIZA in the European Parliament between 2014-2019.
On the attack and Konstantina Kuneva:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Konstantina_Kouneva
The Attika Union of Cleaners and Domestic Workers – PEKOP
Subsequent investigation and court cases
2009: Kuneva’s comments on her attackers: https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/66165/unionist-spotlights-root-causes-of-violence/
2009: Lawyers blame the police for a lack of progress in the investigation: https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/62395/lawyers-slam-kuneva-failings/
2009: One suspect arrested and later released without charge: https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/62173/suspect-held-over-kuneva-hit/
2010: New government promises progress but suggestions the case will be closed: https://www.ekathimerini.com/opinion/69156/the-shadow-of-injustice/
2013: A first instance court finds in favour of Kuneva and rules the attack a workplace accident with OIKOMET sharing responsibility. €250,000 is awarded in compensation: https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/151914/judge-rules-in-kuneva-s-favor-over-acid-attack/
https://left.gr/news/enohi-i-oikomet-gia-dolofoniko-vitrioli-stin-k-koyneva
2016: An appeal court overturns the 2013 verdict: https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/206519/court-overturns-original-ruling-in-acid-attack-case/
2017: Supreme Court hearing fails to delivery: https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/222321/supreme-court-hears-appeal-on-kuneva-acid-attack/
2018: An interview with Kuneva 10 years after the attack: https://popaganda.gr/people/konstantina-kouneva/
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Sunday 21st December 2008
The clashes in Exarcheia and around the occupied universities continued into the early hours of December 21st. This led to the main question of the day; would the asylum status of university campuses be lifted to allow a police raid? This itself was part of the larger question of how the revolt would end. The previous day had seen significant demonstrations but these would clearly decline with the holiday season. Schools and universities remained under occupation but were also shutting down for the holidays. New dates for demonstrations had already been set for January leaving the different local groups to decide whether to maintain their actions and occupations until then or slowly wind down.
With the major days over a number of incidents on the 21st-23rd December pointed the way to the future course of events.
Incendiary Attack on a police building
In the early hours a group by the name of Gangs of Consciousness (Simmories Sineidisis) used molotov cocktails and gas canisters in an incendiary attack on a police building in the district of Nea Philadelphia. The fires caused some damage and burnt a number of police cars. In the proclamation published to claim responsibility for the attack the group advocated the creation of new urban guerilla cells to attack the state and capital.
This was not the groups first appearance. They were one of a number of anarchist groups that had begun claiming similar attacks in the year or so leading up to December 2008 and represented a rising trend of often nihilism or individualist anarchism. Following the revolt, whether under the name of a specific group or not, these attacks would intensify. Indeed, on the same day two banks and luxury car dealership were burnt in Heraklio, Crete.
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/183737/empristiki-epithesi-se-autokinita-tis-astunomias
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/952534/
http://www.hri.org/news/greek/ana/2008/08-12-22.ana.html
Attempts to break university asylum
The legacy of the 1970s student movement against the military dictatorship meant that police forces were not simply allowed to enter university campuses. This asylum was never fully guaranteed and it was possible for the police to raid universities but it did mean that doing so would be provocative allowing a certain degree of safety for campus occupations. As this allowed people on the street to re-group and take shelter during clashes this angered the police and led to the possibility that the police would use force to end the occupations.
The heavy clashes around the Polytechnic and Law School raised the prospect of a police intervention. In response the assembly of the occupied polytechnic declared they would not be going anywhere. While the police were in position the administration of the National Technical University of Athens refused to lift the asylum denying the police the option to launch a raid. In hindsight despite the heavy clashes of the 20th a raid would have been unnecessarily provocative.
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/953020/
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/952915/
http://www.hri.org/news/greek/ana/2008/08-12-23.ana.html
Budget vote
The Karamanlis government ended several days of debate on the 2009 budget by narrowly voting it through. Only 151 MPs in the 300 seat chamber voted for the budget highlighting the weakness of the government. Many of the post-debate comments from the party leaders focused on the events on the streets rather than the budget itself. With differences in nuance the general position in the parliament was to condemn the violence of the past fortnight and blame it all on extremists. Amongst the most memorable of the comments was the Communist Party (KKE) criticising the uprising and claiming that in any true popular uprising “Not even one window will be smashed”.
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Saturday 20th December 2008
This day marked two weeks since the beginning of the revolt and its last major day of widespread action. While the streets of Exarcheia were filled with thousands of people in the evening earlier on activities were more decentralised. A significant number of Athenian neighbourhoods saw local demonstrations on a day which was also given an international dimension with solidarity gatherings in a variety of countries.
Widespread Demonstrations
The decentralised actions mobilised hundreds in neighbourhoods across Athens. These were often accompanied by a number of the tactics of the revolt with interventions at radio stations, occupations of public buildings and sabotage of ticket machines at metro stations. A good example is presented in the report from Petralona below.
More centralised actions saw an exchange of rocks and tear gas in Syntagma as the riot police stepped in to protect the freshly restored Christmas tree. The focus, however, was on Exarcheia and especially around the occupied Polytechnic building. Significant clashes lasted late into the night and would raise the prospect in the following days of a police storming of the campus. During the renewed riots an office of the credit control company Tiresias S.A was burnt down.
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/952258/
https://www.skai.gr/news/greece/nea-entasi-sta-eksarxeia
https://www.france24.com/fr/20081220-incidents-ont-emaille-manifestation-antiraciste-
https://www.france24.com/fr/20081221-nouvelles-echauffourees-le-centre-dathenes-
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7794198.stm
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/dec/21/greece-protests-athens-violence
Petralona: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/951679/
Athenian round-up: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/952230/
International Stage
The days running up to the 20th were used by many in Greece to call for a day of international solidarity. Dozens of gatherings or marches were called for cities across Europe and North America. The largest were reported in Germany were 800-1200 marched in Hamburg. The events gave many local anarchist groups the opportunity to mobilise but appear limited in their impact. As noted elsewhere there were concerns about the example being set by Greece. This is demonstrated by the article below entitled the “The ‘Greek Virus’ worries Europeans” and draws on comparisons in the French discussion between May 1968 and December 2008.
International actions: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/951373/
Germany: https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/183744/germania-diadilosi-sumparastasis-stous-ellines-mathites
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/952295/
Istanbul: https://athens.indymedia.org/post/952127/
‘The Greek Virus’: https://www.kathimerini.gr/politics/344024/o-ellinikos-ios-anisychei-toys-eyropaioys/
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Friday 19th December 2008
Sandwiched between two days of significant protests the 19th saw relatively few large scale actions. However, a number of notable small scale actions took place in central Athens and the neighbourhoods. Almost two weeks on from Alexis’ murder further ballistics examinations continued to cast doubt on the police’s story of what happened on December 6th while the force was also reported to be suffering from a crisis of morale.
Attack on the French Institute
The French Institute in Athens was targetted by a small group who smashed the windows and caused some material damage without inflecting any personal injuries. With the French state appearing to be the most nervous about events in Greece given the mobilisation of students in France the action was clearly designed to send a message from the Greek streets to France. Among the slogans left painted on the institute’s walls was “a spark in Athens, a fire in Paris, the insurrection is coming”- “Etincelle à Athènes, incendie à Paris, c’est l’insurrection vient”.
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/183843/empristiki-epithesi-sto-galliko-instistouto
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/950703/
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/950355/
https://www.france24.com/fr/20081219-manifestants-sattaquent-a-linstitut-francais-dathenes-
Diverse Actions
So far there had been numerous interventions and protests at radio and TV stations. Now the practice extended to Athens’ theatres. As with the interventions on other media the theatre performances were peacefully interrupted by a small group that provided an explanation for their actions and asked people to join them on the street. The cast and director of one play that was interrupted at the National Theatre reportedly refused to continue in a gesture of solidarity.
This day provided another example of the local demonstrations which were typical of December and Greek protests in general. Out in the western Athenian neighbourhood of Aigalio a hundred people marched through the streets and despite the small size of the group attacked the riot police outside the local police station before smashing bank surveillance cameras.
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/951090/
An unnamed group of people claimed to have set fire to bank branches in the northern city of Ioannina.
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/950993/
Ballistics and Police Morale
The latest ballistics report moved the story of Alexis’ murder closer to the accounts of the eyewitnesses. The latest findings suggested that any ricochet of the fatal bullet occurred lower to the ground than the police stated supporting the accounts which said the police directly towards Alexis.
The police force was reported to be going through a crisis of nervous as the two weeks of chasing protesters, and public reactions to the murder of a teenager weighed on the force’s morale.
http://www.kathimerini.gr/343855/article/epikairothta/ellada/e3ostrakismo-deixnei-h-vallistikh-ereyna
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/183880/to-porisma-tis-ballistikis
http://www.kathimerini.gr/343880/article/epikairothta/ellada/neyrikh-krish-stis-ta3eis-twn-astynomikwn
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Thursday 18th December 2008
The thirteenth day of the uprising saw thousands of people again marching and rioting on the streets in response to the calls for protests launched in recent days. Much of the activity of the day focused on Athens, in particular on Syntagma square where the crowds skirmished with the police outside and a polarized debate on the 2009 budget took place inside the parliament. Further fuel was added to the fire by the news of the injury of another teenage in a shooting the previous evening.
Protests
The highly publicised protest at the Acropolis the previous day had been to promote the protests planned for the 18th. In Athens thousands again took to the streets leading to extensive clashes with the police, especially beneath the parliament in Syntagma. Estimates for the size of the crowd ranged from 5-10,000. Elsewhere there were several interventions on radio and TV stations and further marches.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/dec/18/greece-athens-protests
https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/183979/epeisodia-ekso-apo-ti-bouli
For a collection of images from the clashes in Athens see below
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/950016/
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/950002/
https://athens.indymedia.org/post/949951/
Student shot
Today’s protests were in part fuelled by a reaction to the latest incident of violence against a teenager. During the evening of the 17th a 16 year old, named Giorgos Paplomatas, was wounded in the hand by a gun shot. The teenager, the son of a KKE activist, was hit while standing among a group of people in the Athenian neighbourhood of Peristeri. Though the attackers were never found the incident was believed to be the targeting of protesters taking part in the local occupations and assemblies.
http://teacherdudebbq.blogspot.com/2008/12/second-greek-high-school-student-shot.html
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2008/12/gree-d20.html
https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/61143/chaos-in-athens-as-tensions-peak/
Parliamentary budget debate
As the streets continued to teem with activity the parliament began a debate on the budget on December 17th. The debate presented each party in parliament the chance to trade statements and position themselves in the context of a weakening government and burning streets. In hindsight the debate is interesting for a number of comments which prefigured the coming economic crisis. For example, PASOK’s spokesman, and future Finance Minister, George Papaconstantinou claimed New Democracy’s budget was based on dangerous and fake figures while the following day the former Prime Minister Simitis said the state ran the risk of having to resort to the IMF.