Disabled groups in Greece protest against cuts in pensions

World Today

Anti-austerity demonstrators march along a street during a protest in central Athens, Wednesday, July 15, 2015. Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras faced a revolt in his left-wing party and workers’ calls for strikes ahead of Wednesday’s Parliament vote on a bailout deal meant to prevent the country’s economy from collapsing. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

A small group of disabled people and their relatives gathered in central Athens on Tuesday to protest against planned cuts in pensions and benefits as austerity measures approved by the Greek parliament began to be implemented.

Organizations representing Greeks with various physical and mental disabilities say they have not been granted exceptions from steep sales-tax hikes that took effect on Monday and planned cuts in state spending on pensions.

The latest austerity measures are being fast-tracked through Greece’s parliament to allow the government to negotiate a third bailout and catch up on repayments to the International Monetary Fund.

The measures include a VAT increase on many food products, which will cause prices to spike and will thus increase the cost of living.

Story by the Associated Press