Over 5,000 protesters gathered outside the seat of Greek parliament Thursday evening in a peaceful demonstration backing the country’s membership in the currency zone and the European Union.
Scores of demonstrators, waving Greek flags, climbed the marble staircase leading to the threshold of the parliament building, draping the walls with Greek flags and surrounding the ceremonial guard at its base.
Demonstrators were chanting "Europe! Europe!" calling on the government to end the debt deadlock that could push Greece into bankruptcy.
Opposition politicians from centre-right and centre-left parties, including legislators attended the rally, held under the motto "We're staying in Europe."
Many came with whistles, an attempt to "wake up" Greek citizens to the dangers that would come if the current government fails in its negotiations with creditors, resulting in an exit from the euro.
The demonstration, which was noisy but peaceful, appeared to be slightly larger than a pro-government rally, that took place one day earlier, to protest against austerity and back the leftist government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras while calling on Greece’s European and International Monetary creditors to soften their stance in the cash-for-reforms talks.
Meanwhile, police blocked a planned march by 200 anarchists in the area. The anarchists were protesting against capitalism, the government and Greece’s creditors.
Φωτογραφίες: Nikos Libertas / SOOC & EUROKINISSI/ΣΤΕΛΙΟΣ ΜΙΣΙΝΑΣ