Greek PM: ‘Existence Of Europe Under Threat’

By Robert Nisbet – “After meeting the European Commission President Jose Barroso at the EU summit in Brussels, George Papandreou said the problem wasn’t ‘simply a Greek one’.

He said his government ‘again and again made decisive moves’ suggesting that it was now the turn of European leaders to make ‘historical’ decisions.

The socialist government has implemented a series of measures to cut spending and raise revenue, which has provoked fury on the streets.

In violent protests this week outside the Greek Parliament one person died and 200 were injured.

It is clear the austerity measures are having a dramatic effect on the middle class: wages have shrunk, pensions hacked back and thousands of civil servants put on notice.

Pensioner Sotoris Grizas helped found the socialist PASOK party which is now in power.

His pension has already been slashed, now he faces another losing another 20%. Tax increases and rising prices in the shops are adding to the squeeze.

‘The government didn’t predict this crisis, they didn’t plan well, and they failed the Greek people with their negotiations. I will fight to remove them from power,’ he told Sky News.” Read more.