Updated on
Summary Hundreds of old age pensioners, some supporting themselves with walking sticks, marched towards the Greek prime minister's office on Thursday, to voice their outrage at pension levels and health care cuts.
They were briefly blocked by riot police vans and security officers close to the prime ministers office, but the vans then parted and let them continue their protest. At one stage an elderly protester fainted, collapsing on the ground and having to be helped by fellow protesters. Disgrace and Shame to those who govern us shouted the several hundred senior citizens, many saying they were living off pensions as low as 400 euros, making living conditions difficult. They were also protesting planned cost cuts to the countrys health care system, to be initiated following the passing of a health care reform bill on Wednesday. As part of economic reforms that were introduced in March, the government has slashed pension supplements and frozen pension rises in order to cut state costs. It has also merged several social security programs together into just a few.
