Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
In 2012-13 average Athenians, whether doctors or office workers, saw their wages
severely cut, some say as much as 30%, while living costs were soaring at an unpalatable
rate. At the same time, the rising unemployment rate has reached around 27% and there
are plans to shell one in four public-sector jobs to help cut the deficit. No surprise then
that the Greek psyche has shifted from relaxed to anxious. 'A state,' one Athenian told
us, 'that we're just not used to.'
The austerity measures and declining living standards have also widened Greece's
stark economic and social disparities - the hedonistic lifestyles of Athenians taking
weekend jaunts to Mykonos bear no resemblance to struggling pensioners or workers in
rural Greece. Homelessness, suicides and once-rare violent crime are on the rise. Grow-
ing anger and social unrest has sparked mass demonstrations and violent clashes with po-
lice. Disillusioned young Greeks are bearing the brunt of years of economic mismanage-
ment - the country's most educated generation (30% of 20- and early 30-somethings are
university graduates) face bleak employment prospects as youth unemployment tips
60%.
New Political Landscape
Many Greeks have suffered for so long in the grip of the economic crisis that they see
nothing but gloom ahead, and have no belief in any of the current political entities.
Nothing highlights the surreal state of Greek politics in the wake of the economic
crisis more than the unthinkable marriage of convenience between arch political rivals
New Democracy and PASOK - who have alternately governed for nearly 40 years. Is the
fragile coalition is a sign that Greek politicians can work together for the greater good?
Many already cynical Greeks will tell you it's the troika of Greece's creditors really run-
ning the show. Lost faith in the major parties has changed Greece's political paradigm,
shifting support to new parties, from radical left SYRIZA to far-right Golden Dawn.
Recent anti-government protests have escalated into violent clashes, often involving
fringe anarchist groups; images of Athens in a haze of tear gas, and riot police clashing
with hooded youths hurling rocks and petrol bombs have been beamed around the world.
While most demonstrations are peaceful, visitors should steer clear of big rallies, which
usually take place in the streets leading to the Greek Parliament.
Immigration & Asylum
A current hot potato of debate is immigration. As the main gateway to Europe, Greece is
grappling with rampant illegal migration via the porous Turkish border and Greece's re-
mote islands, and people from Afghanistan, Iraq and Africa are flooding into the country.
Despite the number of arrivals, Greece has the lowest acceptance rate of any EU country
