Since the train disaster last week, the Greeks have not taken off against the authorities, whom they hold responsible for the tragedy which left at least 57 dead. Every day, they take to the streets by the thousands, candles, black balloons and signs in their hands. But what was initially gatherings in tribute to the victims is gradually turning into a general protest.
“It is the accumulation of ten years of suffering in silence linked to the economic crisis. It is a very mature anger,” says Filippa Chatzistavrou, professor of political science at the University of Athens. Every day, thousands of people gather across the country, from Athens to Thessaloniki, via the city of Larissa or even on the island of Santorini.
“Murderers”, “guilty”, “criminals”, everywhere the same anger is expressed towards the authorities. “People think that this accident is the mathematical result of a series of big changes in Greece”, believes the political scientist. This is evidenced by the many privatizations implemented in the country in recent years, forced by the economic crisis.
Greece had to face, from 2008, a major financial crisis, leading to the imposition of strict austerity measures. Then followed an explosion in the unemployment rate, a wave of privatization in several sectors, such as that of trains, and a drop in the standard of living. The economic situation has pushed many young people and intellectuals to desert the country, while others are still feeling the economic repercussions.
“Bribery, bribery! chanted Tina in front of the Greek parliament at the end of the week. Like thousands of other people, she has been coming to protest in downtown Athens since the accident. She accuses the authorities of being responsible for this, by not having used correctly, according to her, the millions of euros in aid sent by the European Union to improve the Greek rail system. “That money is gone! Half that amount or even less could have prevented this accident and many others. It’s scandalous ! » she says to the Duty.
For her, it’s one event too many. “We have had ten years of economic crisis which have been devastating, many people have lost their homes, while others have filled their pockets. Then we had the pandemic, and now this. And, I am also an artist, ”she lists before collapsing in tears.
For several weeks, the world of Greek performing arts has been on strike to oppose a government decree which they believe would devalue their diplomas and their careers. “We can’t work like decent people anymore since the crisis, but at least don’t kill us! she cries, enraged.
“Greeks now see that in real life, political decisions related to austerity, such as privatizations, can endanger their existence. This is what pushes them more widely to go out in the street, ”believes Professor Chatzistavrou.
Emotion gives way to anger
In these gatherings, we come across all types of people, ranging from employees of the railway network, through the unemployed and students, or even Greeks who simply can’t make ends meet, even by combining several odd jobs.
“The suffering is very real,” said the primary school teacher who was among some 60,000 protesters across the country on Wednesday. “I have to give private lessons in the evenings in addition to my job, and even with that, I find it difficult to manage,” explains Sotiris.
Eleftheriou is also fed up with the situation in her country. She came to express it at a large rally on Sunday with a banner calling the government a criminal. “Decisions are always made for profits and capitalism, they don’t care about people,” she told the Dutyexasperated by all the successive governments since the beginning of the economic crisis.
Not far from her, a group of young people, black balloons in hand as a sign of tribute to the victims. Joy is a student. She came with friends to try to make a difference, worried about what the future holds for her. “Young people are also angry and worried. The government gives money to NATO, but why not to the health system, education and transport? she wonders.
These different discourses and claims lead political scientist Filippa Chatzistavrou to say that we are perhaps witnessing the beginning of a broader social movement. “We see more and more social groups joining, but the question now is the issue of mobilization. Can they be able to build a coherent discourse together with big social demands? she wonders, giving as an example the movement of yellow vests in France, which, after a few months, ran out of steam. One thing is certain for her, this anger is much deeper and more important than that which was expressed at the start of the economic crisis.
Political impact?
The railway tragedy and the protests of the population come at the worst time for the conservative government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, which was preparing to call an election. Widely favored in the polls, despite a series of scandals in recent months – such as illegal wiretapping – he was almost certain to win a new mandate.
But since the accident, the prime minister has been under fire from critics, and the pressure is increasing on his government. Its Minister of Transport resigned a few hours after going to the scene of the accident, while Kyriakos Mitsotákis had to do his my culpa Sunday after repeatedly saying it was just human error.
“These comments are outrageous. This once again demonstrates Greek patronage capitalism and their disconnection from society,” said Ms.me Chatzistavrou. The unions of the Greek railway network have been alerted for months, even years, to a dilapidated, failing network and a significant lack of staff. The Prime Minister’s remarks do not seem to have calmed the discontent, while an almost general strike and numerous rallies paralyzed the whole country on Wednesday.
The imminent launch of the elections, which in all likelihood was to be held next April, will inevitably be postponed as the country is going through a crisis. “There will be a strong political impact, but it is difficult to know which one. Perhaps we will have a destabilization of the Greek political regime? A governance problem? Or a historic rise of the far right? Whatever the case, the intensity and duration of this dispute will be determining factors, believes Filippa Chatzistavrou.