Thousands of Greek workers shut down schools, hospitals and museums Wednesday to protest spending cuts that the government says are needed to prevent a bankruptcy that could roil global financial markets.
“Take the memorandum and leave!” chanted 13,000 demonstrators in Athens’ who were referring to the cuts Greece agreed to make so it could get an emergency loan from the International Monetary Fund and European creditors.
Greece announced it would begin implementing parts of the agreement such as putting some state workers on partial pay and suspending 30,000 state employees, as well as the imposition of a new property tax. Greece says it has enough money to pay pensions, salaries and bondholders only until mid-November.