Thousands take to the streets in Greece ahead of vote on tax, pensions overhaul

Athens

THOUSANDS of protesters took to the streets of Athens on Sunday as Greece's Parliament prepared to vote on a controversial tax and pensions overhaul which has sparked mass opposition.

Police said almost 15,000 people turned out to march in Athens and the second city of Thessaloniki against the measures demanded by the European Union (EU) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that the government is seeking to adopt ahead of a crunch meeting of eurozone creditors in Brussels on Monday.

The reforms to be voted on later on Sunday would reduce Greece's highest pension payouts, merge several pension funds, increase contributions and raise taxes for those on medium and high incomes.

The austerity measures are part of a package demanded by the EU and the IMF in exchange for a 86 billion euro (S$134 billion) bailout agreed in July, the third for the debt-laden country sin…