May Day 2015 in Greece: A general strike for some, a holiday marking the apex of spring and a celebration of flowers for others. Protest marches took place in several Greek cities on Friday, with the biggest in central Athens, where the “star” participant was none other than the world’s latest “celebrity economist”, FinMin Yanis Varoufakis.
Greek PM Alexis Tsipras stayed away but sent a message via his official Twitter account. Other politicos were on hand, mainly from the ruling leftists (SYRIZA), although the gathering was judged as small.
Minor disturbances came towards the end of labour unions’ rally as the ever-lurking groups of self-styled anarchists – mostly teens and young adults clad in black and wearing masks – again appeared to lob various objects, and some firebombs, at riot police.
The “traditional” erecting of road barricades, usually nearby trash bins that are set on fire, was seen on Stournari street, next to the Athens Polytechnic, “ground zero” in the Greek capital for groups of anarchist / anti-state / anti-establishment street fighters.

The flip side of the annual industrial action and accompanying union marches was the long lines of cars leading away from greater Athens by nature-seeking day-trippers and families heading for flower shows held on May 1 — with the most prominent held in the leafy north Athens district of Kifissia.
Perfect weather made the day ideal for marching, excursions or whatever anyone cared to do on Friday.

Surrounded by a friendly crowd, as opposed to anti-state activists or Eurogroup ministers, Varoufakis, the self-described “erratic Marxist” and UK-educated “game theorist”, issued his May Day proclamation, nothing that the “… working class is alive and reorganizing its voice.”