Foreclosure

A powerful explosion damaged a court complex in central Athens early Friday, hours after Parliament voted to crackdown on anti-bailout protesters who gather regularly at the building.

Police said the blast occurred before dawn, following warning telephone calls to the offices of a daily newspaper and news website.

Two unions will be holding separate rallies in central Athens on Thursday evening to protest a law imposing strict penalties on anyone trying to prevent foreclosure auctions.

An amendment introduced on Wednesday to a Justice Ministry draft bill says that anyone trying to prevent foreclosure auctions with violence or the threat of violence will be instantly prosecuted.

The new law is aimed at cracking down on the vociferous and sometimes violent protests witnessed across the country against the sale of properties seized by banks from debtors.

The union representing notaries in Athens, Piraeus and the Aegean islands on Tuesday announced the suspension of property foreclosures scheduled to take place at Greek courts on Wednesday amid lingering concerns about recent protests at courthouses that have turned violent. 

Foreclosures on Greek properties will soon be carried out henceforth only electronically, according to a government plan aimed at curbing a spate of protests at courthouses that has led to the cancellation of numerous auctions.

Fearing that the government may suffer yet more political wear and tear as it tries to steer clear of pitfalls of the fourth bailout review, senior officials are increasing the pressure on Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to hold early elections in March.

Electronic auctions began in Greece last week after months of discussions and delays. It was a minor first foray into this form of foreclosure in terms of volume (only two properties went under the hammer) but a much more significant moment as far as substance is concerned.

Government officials will go into talks with the institutions on Saturday hoping they will culminate in a staff-level agreement (SLA). Some common ground was achieved on Friday but the Greek side had to make several concessions.

Greece's government came under fire from the conservative opposition on Friday over the resumption of auctions of foreclosed properties.

During a press briefing, New Democracy spokeswoman Maria Spyraki attacked the "insensitive" government for failing to protect vulnerable social groups against auctions.

Greek police have used tear gas to hold back dozens of protesters trying to disrupt foreclosed property auctions that resumed after a hiatus of several months.

Protesters pelted police with trash cans, fire extinguishers and other items at the Athens courthouse where the auctions were taking place Wednesday.