With Greece under constant international pressure to make more cuts and reforms to secure bailout money – at home there was a strong warning not to cave in.

Protests like the one on Thursday that attracted hundreds of people to central Athens used to be commonplace – against previous governments’ austerity measures.

This time here were demonstrators – led by Communist-affiliated trade unions – afraid that the anti-austerity Syriza government is about to copy them.

“The government is ready to make a deal that will pave the way for an agreement with lots of unpopular austerity measures,” said Dimitris Koutsoubas, General Secretary of the Greek Communist Party.

“This protest sends a message showing our determination to fight against all new measures aiming to continue the austerity,” another male demonstrator added.

Greece wants a cash-for-reforms deal from international creditors – who are thought to be insisting on more movement on labour reform, taxes and pensions.

Euronews