Merkel tells Greece to stay the course amid austerity anger

GREECE: German Chancellor Angela Merkel told Greece on Tuesday that the “tough path” of painful spending cuts will pay off, as tens of thousands protested in a show of anger against her visit to the eurozone’s most indebted nation.

Police fired tear gas to disperse protesters in the Greek capital attempting to storm a barricade just blocks away from where Merkel was meeting with Greek Prime Minister Antonio Samaras, as small gangs of masked youths threw bottles at riot police.

While Merkel hailed the progress of reforms undertaken by Athens, 30,000 protesters brandishing banners reading “You are not welcome, Imperialisten Raus” (Imperialists out) or “No to the Fourth Reich”, vented their anger against the budgetary discipline preached by the German leader.

Two Nazi flags were draped on a steel barricade near parliament and set on fire. During the protests, 24 people were arrested.

In the northern city of Thessaloniki, some 700 protesters also rallied outside the German consulate.

Vilified for the punishing spending cuts imposed in recession-hit Greece, Merkel, the head of the Europe’s paymaster, was on her first visit to the country since the eurozone debt crisis erupted almost three years ago.

Merkel has become a hate figure in Greece over the austerity measures imposed on the country in return for promised loans and debt relief worth about 347 billion euros ($448 billion).

She has even been depicted as Adolf Hitler in Greek tabloid caricatures.

On her first visit to Greece in five years, Merkel said: “I am deeply convinced that this tough path is worth it and Germany wants to be a good partner.

“A lot has been achieved. There is still a lot to do and Germany and Greece will work very closely together.

“These problems cannot be solved with one wave of a magic wand or one measure.... It will be a long way but I believe that we will see light at the end of the tunnel,” Merkel said.

Samaras, a conservative who took office after elections in June, responded: “Greece is determined to keep its promises and overcome the crisis.... The Greek people are bleeding right now, but they are determined to win the battle of competitiveness.” Merkel’s visit came at a crucial time for Athens, which is locked in negotiations with its international creditors over a 13.5-billion-euro package of more cuts in order to win further bailout funds.

‘Pours oil on fire’ -- Berlin and Athens have both sought to sell Merkel’s visit as a gesture of solidarity and encouragement for Greece’s reform efforts, but many Greeks said the trip only served to fan anger. AFP