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Workers in Italy and Spain protest gov't austerity measures

Demonstrators in Italy and Spain have taken to the streets in protest at government measures to tackle debt in two of the eurozone's most beleaguered economies. 

Reuters/Stefano Rellandini
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Parts of Italy's public transport network ground to a halt and major attractions such as the Colosseum in Rome were closed by a strike.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi unveiled a 45.5 billion euro austerity package last month but he is struggling to get parliamentary approval, and recently backed down on part of a pensions reform following public disapproval.

His proposals were heavily criticised by the opposition and unions for hitting the weakest and poorest, particularly its pension reforms. Their anger was further stoked when the government dropped a proposal for a levy on high earners which had been part of the original austerity package.

Apart from the protest in Rome, more than 10,000 were taking part in an anti-austerity demonstration in Florence, and other marches were underway in Genoa and other towns and cities across Italy.

In Spain, which has the highest unemployment rate in the industrialised world at nearly 21 per cent, unions put up a show of force against a constitutional amendment to ensure that budgets are balanced.

Spain's upper house of parliament is almost certain to approve a constitutional change on Wednesday that will enshrine balanced budgets. Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero is trying to calm market nerves about Spain's ability to service its annual deficits.

The protests come a day after Europe's stock markets saw sharp falls in share prices, including by more than three per cent in Italy and Spain, amid growing fears of recession.

There was a slight rally in early trading Tuesday.

 

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