Housing · Athens
Greek students camp outside parliament in protest over rents and living costs
Dozens of students planned to spend the night outside the Athens parliament, while about 20 student associations will join a 24-hour teachers' strike on Wednesday, 21 October.
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In brief
Hundreds of university students protested on Tuesday, 20 October, and dozens planned to spend the night outside the Athens parliament.
Student Kleidio Mani cited rents of 500 and 600 euros, and the students are demanding more public residence places and a bigger allowance for children from vulnerable families.
The DOE called a 24-hour strike for Wednesday, 21 October, demanding a 20% pay rise and housing aid for teachers posted to other cities, while about 20 Athens student associations will join.
Protest outside parliament
Hundreds of university students gathered on Tuesday, 20 October, in front of the Greek parliament in Athens to protest high rents and the high cost of living. Dozens of them were preparing to stay overnight at the site. A giant banner stretched in front of the building linked the fight for free public education in Greece with the same struggle in France.
The demonstration drew about 20 student associations from the capital, which will join the 24-hour strike called for Wednesday, 21 October. Protesters described the pressure of working while studying to cover the cost of housing.
What the students want
Kleidio Mani, a student at the Athens Polytechnic, told the Newsit news portal that students must work while studying to pay rents of 500 and 600 euros, and that the state does not provide even the minimum support. The students are asking for decent housing for all university students, especially those who must move to other cities and come from low-income families.
They also want a larger student allowance for children from vulnerable families and more places in public university residences. Lower electricity and diesel prices are on their list of demands as well.
Teachers' strike and demands
The DOE, the main union of primary school teachers, called the 24-hour strike for Wednesday. Teachers are seeking a 20% pay rise and housing allowances for those posted to other cities, particularly tourist areas where prices are very high. The union's call stressed that almost half of teachers are forced to live on salaries that do not exceed 1,000 euros.
Political response and policing
Athens mayor Jaris Dukas, a social democrat, said on Tuesday that he supports the students and teachers but opposes violent protests. Greek police deployed riot police and set up checkpoints at strategic points in the capital, a police spokesperson told the Skai broadcaster. The deployment came in the context of violent protests in France and other countries, as the articles describe them.
Sources and context
- Notícias ao MinutoGreek students camp at parliament to demand lower rentsEstudantes gregos acampam no parlamento para exigir rendas mais baixas · original in Portuguese
- La RazónGreek students camp before Parliament due to the high cost of housingEstudiantes griegos acampan ante el Parlamento por el alto coste de la vivienda · original in Spanish