Fighting breaks out at massive anti-private university rally in Athens

ATHENS

Fighting broke out Friday during a massive rally in Athens that was held to protest the government’s education reform bill to allow the opening of private universities in Greece.

Protesters, which included thousands of university students, staff and parents of students, were supported by left-wing trade unions and political parties.

They repeated their strong opposition to the bill with slogans and banners.

At least in three different areas around Syntagma Square where parliament is located and central roads merge, fighting erupted between police and the protestors, for which each side traded blame.

Police sprayed pepper gas and beat students who responded by throwing stones and petrol bombs.

Public broadcaster ERT said at least eight students were injured in the police’s harsh intervention and eventually were taken to the hospital.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who announced the reforms in December, said that under the changes, private universities would be able to operate as Greek branches of foreign educational institutions, some of which are already seeking to operate in the country.

Greece has 24 accredited public universities, as well as several private colleges.

The Constitution prohibits private institutions from operating as independent universities for post-secondary education.

Colleges generally overcome that constraint via collaboration agreements with foreign universities to offer undergraduate and postgraduate programs.