The protest rally and march that took place in the centre of Athens, as part of the 24-hour general strike called by the General Confederation of Employees of Greece (GSEE) and the civil servants’ union federation ADEDY ended at around 14:00 on Thursday.

In his address at Klafthmonos Square, main opposition SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras said that “today the dead-end of a strategy of submission to the most unreasonable orders and wishes of the troika, as well as the dead-end of the strategy of the obedient student followed by Samaras government for the past 2.5 years are confirmed in the most dramatic way.”

The protesters, including workers, unemployed, pensioners and students, gathered in Klafthmonos Square at 11:00 and then marched toward Syntagma Square.

Mr. Tsipras participated in the march that had a large turnout and was accompanied by a strong police presence, and even agreed to pose for a selfie with some of the protesters.

In fact, two of the ladies that asked the SYRIZA leader to pose with them told protothema.gr that Alexis Tsipras was polite and that he immediately agreed to be photographed with them.