(GREEK NEWS AGENDA) Political leaders expressed their shock and grief on Wednesday in the wake of a bank torching in central Athens that left three bank employees dead.
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News of the abhorrent attack found Parliament in session to debate the latest round of government-announced austerity measures – the reason unions were holding protests outside the House.
President of the Hellenic Republic
Referring to the current financial situation and the frustration many people are feeling with the political system, President Karolos Papoulias stated the following:
“Our country has reached the edge of the abyss. It is everybody’s responsibility that we do not take the fatal step. Responsibility is proven through action, not in words. History will judge us all.”
Prime Minister
Prime Minister George Papandreou rebuked a murderous attack, while promising that “the perpetrators will be located and will stand trial.” Moreover, the premier called on all Parliament-represented parties to unequivocally condemn the violence.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are a free and democratic country. We fight, and have fought, for the right to live in a democratic Greece. And each citizen has a right to demonstrate.
But no one has the right to resort to violence, especially violence leading to the murder of fellow citizens. And we know that violence breeds violence. Protest is different from murder.”
Opposition Leaders
Main opposition New Democracy (ND) leader Antonis Samaras stressed that the country is going through “critical moments,” while expressing his grief for the innocent victims of fanaticism, and random violence.
The leaders of the remaining opposition parties – the Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga, Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) parliamentary group Chief Alexis Tsipras and Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) leader George Karatzaferis – each condemned the violence and expressed their condolences to the victims’ families.
Filed under: Economy, Government, Greece, Greek Prime Minister, Politics | Tagged: Aleka, Alexis, Antonis, Athens, attack, austerity, Bank, Coalition, Communist, condolences, Current Affairs, Democracy, financial, frustration, General, George, Government, Greece, Greek, grief, Hellenic, πρωθυπουργός, πολιτικοί, συλληπητήρια, της, Έλληνας, Αθήνα, Αλέκα, Αλέξης, Αντώνης, Βουλή, Γιώργος, Δημοκρατίας, Ελλάδα, Ελληνική, Ελληνικής, ΚΚΕ, Κάρολος, Καρατζαφέρης, ΛΑΟΣ, ΝΔ, Πρόεδρος, Παπαρήγα, Παπανδρέου, Παπούλιας, ΣΥΡΙΖΑ, Σαμαράς, Τράπεζα, Τσίπρας, αρχηγοί, αντιπολίτευση, βία, διαμαρτυρίες, επίθεση, ειδήσεις, θύματα, κυβέρνηση, κόμματα, κατάσταση, λιτότητας, μέτρα, οικονομική, Karatzaferis, Karolos, leaders, left, Measures, Minister, murderous, New, news, of, opposition, orthodox, Papandreou, Papariga, Papoulias, Parliament, parties, party, Political, popular, President, Prime, protests, radical, Rally, Republic, Samaras, Secretary, situation, System, The, Tsipras, victims, violence | Comments Off on Greece in mourning
The European Union yesterday, 
agreed to take determined and coordinated action to safeguard financial stability in the euro area, and expressed full support for the efforts of the Greek government and their commitment to do whatever is necessary to get the country’s public finances in order.
“our partners assessed and ascertained our will to change, we convinced them, following our great efforts, and it is necessary for us to continue. 
Embassy of Greece in Poland Press & Communication Office 