20 June 2017•Update: 21 June 2017
By Idyli Tsakiri
ATHENS
Almost 3,000 Greeks demonstrated in Athens Tuesday night, demanding that the government resign.
With banners reading “Resign,” and “No more lies, no more corruption, no more [Prime Minister Alexis] Tsipras,” mostly liberal and white-collar protesters gathered outside the Greek Parliament in a peaceful two-hour demonstration.
"We want the whole policy of [the ruling] SYRIZA to be eliminated,” said 60-year-old Evangelia, one of the protesters, adding that a new government is essential for Greece to start moving forward.
"SYRIZA manipulates the people's emotions,” George, 33, a professor and demonstrator, told Anadolu Agency.
“Education is the first thing that needs to change; the minister, the officials, everything. Change comes from the youth and how you educate this youth is crucial," he added.
The protest comes a week after Greece reached a deal with its creditors in Luxembourg and unlocked 8.5 billion euros ($9.46 billion) in funding.
The first tranche of 7.7 billion euros ($8.57 billion) will be given to Athens in July. The 6.9 billion euros ($7.68 billion) will be used for loan repayments, while the rest will go towards arrears owed by the Greek state.
Greece’s lenders will return to Athens towards the end of the year, for the third review of its bailout program.
Earlier this month, Greek lawmakers approved yet another set of austerity measures including pension and labor reforms, for the crisis-stricken country.
