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Greek energy workers strike to derail privatisation

GREEK energy workers started a rolling 48-hour strike today in a bid to derail privatisation plans.

Power cuts were expected throughout the country but trade unionists said walkouts at plants would be staggered to avoid inconveniencing people with a nationwide blackout.

The government of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras plans to break off part of the Public Power Corporation (PPC) and sell it to privateers.

It also intends to sell a 17 per cent stake of the remainder of the company.

The privatisation drive is part of demands by the European Union and International Monetary Fund in return for loans to allow the Greek government to pay its international creditors.

But workers in the DEH-GENOP and Spartakos unions say energy is a “vital commodity” which should be owned and controlled by the Greek people.

Mr Samaras told reporters from Strasbourg that he would not bow to “fanatic populists” who supported public ownership and said the sell-off would definitely go ahead.

But it requires approval next week in the Greek parliament, where his New Democracy-led coalition has a majority of just two.

The neoliberal PM pleaded that “privatisations are connected to our right to progress” and claimed they had “paid off” in other European countries.

Left opposition party Syriza has demanded a referendum on the unpopular sell-off, while the Communist Party of Greece argues that the “liberalisation” of the energy sector more generally should be put to the people.

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