Roundup: Greece hit by general strike as gov't plans to push reforms

Greece was hit by a 48-hour nationwide general strike starting on Friday as labor unions protested tax and pension reform bills that the government promotes in exchange of further aid by international lenders.

The protests in downtown Athens kicked off with a rally of trade union PAME.

The general strike affected public transport and other services. Ships will remain docked at ports until Tuesday, as the seamen federation has opted for a four-day strike.

Metro, train and bus services have also been disrupted, while schools, banks, tax offices and courts remained closed, and hospitals were running on emergency services.

Journalists unions have also joined the strike, while delegations of farmers were heading to Athens to join the rallies.

The general strike was declared for Friday and Saturday by the umbrella trade unions of public and private sector employees ADEDY and GSEE and other unions, which reject the government's plans to overhaul pensions and increase taxes, as demanded by international creditors.

The vote in parliament on the reforms was originally scheduled for around May 10, but the government on Thursday decided to speed up procedures and bring them forward on Sunday night.

Athens aims to conclude the review in May in order to receive the next bailout tranche and negotiate debt relief.

During a debate in the parliament, Greek Parliament Speaker Nikos Voutsis had argued that the ratification of the critical reforms would strengthen Greece's bargaining position in Monday's Euro Group meeting.

The reforms were two key issues on the agenda of discussions which started in autumn between the Greek government and international lenders as part of the first review of the third bailout program sealed last year.

Government officials argued that the social security and tax reforms fully secure pensions, protect the weak, distribute tax and social security contribution burdens in a fairer and proportional way and ensure the sustainability of the social security system.

Opposition parties and trade unions accused the government of accelerating procedures abruptly and insisted that the new round of tax hikes and pension cuts worth about 5.6 billion euros (6.4 billion U.S dollars) will give a final blow to the welfare system and the average Greek household and enterprise after six years of steep recession and numerous rounds of austerity measures.

Unionists urged parliament members to vote against the reforms.

Greece and its international creditors have negotiated for months to agree on reforms that would allow the debt-laden country to continue receiving bailout aid.

The Euro Group will hold a special panel meeting on Monday afternoon to review the negotiations' progress.

Meanwhile, the Greek parliament is due late Sunday to

vote on a reform package, which was reportedly brought forward from Wednesday to prop Greek Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos in Monday's Euro Group talks.

Yet, the left-right coalition led by Prime Minister Alexis

Tsipras has a narrow majority of 153 lawmakers in the 300-member parliament. It is not easy for the coalition to pass the reform package through the parliament. Endi