Greek Bailout Proposal Triggers Anti-Government Protests In Athens

Protesters in Athens clashed with police officials on Thursday during demonstrations against the far-left Syriza party, which came to power last month. Nearly 450 protesters participated in demonstrations against the newly-elected government led by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, who had recently presented a four-month bailout extension program to the eurozone.

The violence comes just a day before the German parliament is due to vote over the proposed four-month extension, according to media reports. If approved by the German parliament, Greece would be required to implement wide-ranging reforms in exchange for the bailout extension.

The protesters, who accused Tsipras of going back on the pledges made before the elections, smashed windows of shops, threw petrol bombs and stones at police officials and burnt cars after a march against the government on Thursday, Reuters reported.

The bailout extension deal, which was approved by Greece's international creditors last week, has also triggered dissent within the Syriza party, with many leaders reportedly denouncing it as "submission to the blackmail of the troika."

On Thursday, most of the Members of Parliament from German Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right CDU/CSU bloc, voted in agreement to extend the €240bn ($272bn) bailout for Greece, BBC reported. However, questions have been raised regarding Greece’s reform proposals.

"The question is whether one can believe the Greek government's assurances or not," Wolfgang Schaeuble, the German finance minister, reportedly said on Thursday, adding: "There is a lot of doubt in Germany, that has to be understood. Only when we see that they have fulfilled [their promises] will any money be paid."