Wednesday, the 11th of June 2014 marks the one-year anniversary of the coalition government’s decision to shut down the public broadcasting service ERT.

A rally has been planned for 12:30 in Klafthmonos Square, followed by a demonstration outside the ERT HQ at 7pm. The media unions and federation have also agreed upon a walk out.

The federation of ERT employees, POSPERT, issued a statement calling for popular support in the organized demonstrations and accused the Samaras-Venizelos coalition of insisting upon “a brutal policy that destroys the lives of thousands of employees, Education and Health”.

The nationwide journalist federation POESY noted that “the struggle to reopen ERT is paramount in restoring the country’s democratic value and will carry on, with means and strength, until the final vindication”.

Opposition parties support the struggle of ERT employees

SYRIZA has called for popular support of the demonstration outside the ERT HQ, stressing that it has been a year “since Mr. Samaras launched an attack against the public good of information”. The opposition party praised “the heroic struggle of ERT employees” which symbolizes the protection of democracy.

DIMAR called the abrupt closure a “major act of institutional authoritarianism” and argued that shutting down the public broadcasting service was like shutting down democracy and the private life of thousands of employees, who have yet to receive compensation.