European Protesters Decry Austerity Plan

 Huge anti-austerity protests took place Saturday in Spain, Portugal and Italy while Greek voters prepare to have their say about the cost-cutting measures in a key vote Sunday. 

The largest confederation of Portuguese¹ workers (the CGTP) organized a rally in Lisbon to protest against the International Monetary² Fund, European Central Bank and European Commission - the institutions that are enforcing austerity, which is strangling some southern European countries.

The confederation of Italian labor³ unions (CGIL ) organized protests to demand lower taxes for workers and retired⁴ people, more resources toward reducing unemployment, and more efforts by the government to catch tax evaders. 

In Spain's capital Madrid, protesters rallied against government plans to save the country's leading bank, Bankia.  Euro zone leaders last week approved a $125 billion loan to shore up Spain's leading banks which are in trouble, but warned of the need for economic reform.

Protesters said the government is more concerned with saving the country's financial systems than with easing austerity measures which hurt ordinary people. 

Such loans usually carry an obligation on the part of the borrowing country to implement⁵ reforms and cut spending. Harsh economic measures have caused hardships and sparked anger and unrest in southern European countries.

In Greece, where the economic crisis is the worst, many voters have turned to the leftist parties who promise to do away with austerity.  If the leftist coalition⁶ wins in the Sunday parliamentary election, Greece may be forced to exit euro zone, which would undermine Europe's common currency.

European leaders have urged Athens to fulfill⁷ the commitments it has made in exchange for a huge bailout loan and appealed to the voters for support.

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy Saturday expressed hope that Greece will stay in the eurozone.

Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti urged Greek voters again Saturday to favor the parties that want Greece to stay in the euro zone.

In a speech in Bologna he hinted that some leeway may be offered to Greece so it can stay in the the euro zone.

Earlier in the day, Monti warned Italians that Italy also is on the verge⁸ of economic disaster and urged them to support his austerity plan.

1 Portuguese   

n.葡萄牙人；葡萄牙语

参考例句：

• They styled their house in the Portuguese manner.他们仿照葡萄牙的风格设计自己的房子。
• Her family is Portuguese in origin.她的家族是葡萄牙血统。

2 monetary   

adj.货币的，钱的；通货的；金融的；财政的

参考例句：

• The monetary system of some countries used to be based on gold.过去有些国家的货币制度是金本位制的。
• Education in the wilderness is not a matter of monetary means.荒凉地区的教育不是钱财问题。

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

5 implement   

n.(pl.)工具，器具；vt.实行，实施，执行

参考例句：

• Don't undertake a project unless you can implement it.不要承担一项计划，除非你能完成这项计划。
• The best implement for digging a garden is a spade.在花园里挖土的最好工具是铁锹。

6 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

7 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

8 verge   

n.边，边缘；v.接近，濒临

参考例句：

• The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
• She was on the verge of bursting into tears.她快要哭出来了。