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June 21, 2013

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ERT SHOWDOWN - State Plans To Reclaim Building - Workers Staging New "Polytechnic" Uprising

The issue of ERT is something to watch for in the forthcoming days. As we speak, authorities are mapping out a strategy to remove the former workers from ERT's headquarters in Agia Paraskevi (northern Athens) following a mandate by Minister of Finance Yiannis Stournaras. From what we learn, this is not going to be as simple as it sounds. The former workers, who have been illegally occupying the building since last Tuesday and who are now obligated to leave the premises or face the consequences, already announced that they will not lay down their guns without a good fight.

With this in mind, the Ministry of Public Order ordered the Hellenic Police force to be on alert for a possible forcible evacuation of ERT and a reoccupation of the building. The plan, said one report on defencenet, is going to be implemented in Greece for the first time, and use techniques that were applied in the reoccupation of Villa Amalia (from the anarchists) and the TEI Thessaloniki.

Press reports also added that the operation will likely move from office to office, while the whole building, as well as the surrounding areas, will be supported by an extremely strong police force.

If the above plan actually materializes, it will challenge the bipartisan government in what some fear will be a showdown between the state and strong leftist unions, and it will surely be exploited by the smaller parties, especially SYRIZA and the KKE.

The president of ERT's union of workers Panagiotis Kalfagiannis said that the workers will not accept a violation of their fundamental labor rights and announced that their are plans in the works to take legal action against the Greek government.

There are also rumors that the former workers are also preparing a "polytechnic" scene, reminiscent to that of the mid 70s, and that they will continue to illegally occupy the building broadcast this live via the Internet in order to capture the attention of the international press scene. There are also rumors that the former ERT employees will continue firing up Greek citizens to rise up against the government as well as denounce any type of attempt to force them out of the building (meaning that they will try and influence Greek citizens to turn their backs on Greek law enforcers).

So get set for a wild roller coaster ride over the next few days folks, and Athenians should also expect to see many international press agencies in the Greek capital ready to snap the photo of a lifetime. At the same time, expect to see many wannabe politicians (especially from the smaller parties) making fake and patriotic speeches in front of the cameras, lots of loud protesters claiming that democracy does not exist in Greece, and finally expect to read many news stories from a load of anti-Europeans noting that Greece is once again in political and economic turmoil. It is all part of the game!

The issue of ERT might of ended last Tuesday when it was lights out, but the battle with Greece's biggest cancer -the public sector unions- has just begun and this is the bread and butter of all the smaller parties in Greece, especially the Left. And since they govern most of these unions, expect to see the unexpected. They know how to play the game of propaganda very well.

The question is, is the government ready to face such a battle?

Guess we will find out in a few days.
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