Greece defies EU, passes anti-poverty law

Issue 
Protesters in front of Greece's parliament in February to support SYRIZA's push to end European Union-supported austerity.

Greece’s parliament passed what it called a “humanitarian crisis” bill on March 18 in order to help the poorest sectors of its population.

In a move opposed by representatives from the European Union, the government of left-wing Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras pushed for housing allowances and emergency food aid to people in need.

However, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble warned that time was "tight" for the debt-wracked country. The first package of social measures put forward by the newly-elected SYRIZA party has been widely supported by the Greek parliament, even by the conservative former ruling party New Democracy.

Tsipras said that some technocrats are trying to scare his government with ultimatums. “We will not be frightened,” the SYRIZA leader responded.

The bill provides free electricity for some households, and address poverty among pensioners and homeless families. It also included a 100-installment payment scheme for taxpayers to settle their debts with the state.

Greece has been experiencing a deep political and economic crisis for the past five years, with unemployment soaring to 25%. The economy has shrunk by a quarter since the start of the eurozone crisis.

The anti-austerity prime minister has said his country will not accept the austerity policies imposed by creditors and has pledged to renegotiate Greece's US$252 billion twin bailouts. Tsipras said he hopes to achieve a breakthrough in talks over reforms during the upcoming European Union summit in Brussels.

[Reprinted from TeleSUR English.]

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