Greece 'Shutdown' Ahead Of Key Austerity Vote

Greece 'Shutdown' Ahead Of Key Austerity Vote

Greece's parliament will vote Wednesday on a fresh set of cliffhanger austerity measures, while Greek people rally outside the parliament in a two-day strike against these measures, placing Prime Minister Antonis Samaras before a challenging aptitude test.

The vote will determine whether or not Athens receives the next international installment of 31.5 euros, and save it from the pits of bankruptcy.

The €13.5 billion austerity measures include crucial public spending cuts, raising taxes and other job market-related so-called reforms; international creditors are considering slashing pensions by 5-10%, and adding two years to the average retirement age up to 67.

The Greeks are furious over the effects of the multiple rounds of belt-tightening measures, especially those impinging their life time's hard work.