Harper: make the people pay for financial crisis

The Globe and Mail:

Prime Minister Stephen Harper has endorsed Greece’s painful and controversial austerity program to deal with threats of debt defaults that could trigger new financial crisis in Europe.

In a visit to Athens, where strikes and massive protests have become a daily feature of Greek life, Mr. Harper said he had been reassured in detailed briefings from Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou that the austerity plans will succeed -- and told his Greek counterpart he is on his side.

The Greek prime minister, insisted the government has made substantial cuts to its deficit and exports are booming -- and will prove the “doomsayers” wrong.

“We’ve got a lot to do, still. We have a big privatization program. We’ve already taken decisions and we’re implementing these in the next few weeks. Certainly more fiscal adjustments,” he said. “My purpose and my determination is to continue this program.”

Unions and political opponents at home have opposed austerity measures and the sell-off of Greece's extensive state-owned enterprises.

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