Several thousand protesters joined May Day marches in central Athens, as organisers said they hoped action Europe would pressure the EU to change course.
Greece’s two largest unions staged the rally, with protesters gathering near City Hall and marching to parliament.
The heavily policed rally was generally peaceful, but several dozen youths briefly clashed with riot police at Korai Square, where they attacked election kiosks.
May Day marches took place in cities and towns across Greece, five days before the general election dominated by the country’s crippling financial crisis.
“Today we honour the workers who were pioneers and gave us the eight-hour week,” cicivil service union leader Costas Tsikrikas said.
“Policies being forced on us by the European Union are turning us back a century. A coordinated effort in Europe will help change the balance of forces so that governments invest will in growth and move away from parasitic capitalism”.
Source: AthensNews/gw