Their main demands include immediate measures to tackle the rising cost of studying and the shortage of affordable student accommodation.

Students began gathering in Syntagma Square the previous afternoon, setting up tents and delivering speeches. They subsequently marched to the Ministry of Finance, where, according to the associations, officials failed to respond to their demands. In protest, they posted their demands at the ministry’s entrance.

Later, they marched towards parliament, where they attempted to hang banners expressing solidarity with student protests in France, despite the presence of police officers.

According to the student associations, neither the adverse weather nor police intervention deterred the protesters.

Further mobilisations are planned for next week. On Tuesday 20 October, students intend to camp again in Syntagma Square and hold a major concert that had been postponed because of the weather.

On Wednesday 21 October, they plan to shut down their faculties and join nationwide demonstrations alongside school pupils, teachers and healthcare workers.

The statement in full

‘From Greece to France, we are fighting for public, free education.’

The students’ voices have been heard! We continue!

We will camp out again in Syntagma Square and other cities on Tuesday 20 October.

Nationwide rallies will take place across the country on Wednesday 21 October, including a demonstration in Athens at noon outside the University of Athens Propylaea (Panepistimio metro station).

The sight of Syntagma Square filled with tents and students from across Athens who can no longer tolerate the situation speaks for itself! Thousands of voices, one message: Things have gone too far! We demand support measures now! Neither the rain nor the riot police and intimidation could break the students’ determination!

The cost of studying, the lack of student accommodation, the commercialisation of student welfare and rising prices are all obstacles to our education! These obstacles are the result of profit-driven policies pursued by the current New Democracy government and supported by other parties, including PASOK and Tsipras’s party, which treat education as a commodity and students as customers. They allocate billions to military equipment and grant tax exemptions to shipowners, bankers and industrialists, while treating our needs as ‘costs’. They roll out the red carpet for big business, but the Ministry of Finance keeps its doors closed to students.

Now is the time to intensify our struggle!

On Tuesday 20 October, we will camp out again in Syntagma Square and other cities. On Wednesday 21 October, teachers, university workers, healthcare workers and students will strike across the country! We will join forces in nationwide demonstrations! We will close our faculties and take to the streets! We will defend our right to education and oppose the devaluation of our degrees and the establishment of private universities.

We draw strength from the struggles of school pupils and university students in France and young people in Spain! Across Europe, young people are organising and demanding change, opposing EU policies that spend billions on war while cutting social spending! We are inspired by the dockworkers’ strike planned for 30 October in more than 60 ports across four continents! The people have the power to fight for their rights.

We demand:

  • Substantial improvements to the quality of our education. No to the establishment of private universities and the revision of Article 16 of the Constitution.

  • Increased annual state funding and emergency financial support for all universities to cover operating costs, heating and improved student welfare. Modern and safe infrastructure.

  • Degrees that have real value and serve as the sole qualification required for permanent, secure employment with rights. Modern curricula that incorporate developments in science and technology.

  • No to student expulsions.

  • Rent caps. Increased housing allowances and expanded eligibility through the abolition of academic criteria and higher income thresholds.

  • Free accommodation in student halls, hotels or other facilities for every first-year student who cannot afford housing, with the state and university authorities taking responsibility.

  • Renovation and expansion of student halls. Use of university and state-owned property to create public, free student accommodation that meets students’ needs.

  • Caps on electricity and fuel prices. Abolition of excise duty on energy and VAT on essential consumer goods. No electricity disconnections for students unable to pay their bills.

  • Free meals, transport and internet access for all students.

  • Lower prices in university canteens.

  • The right to transfer between universities for all students who need it, with broader economic and social eligibility criteria. The unacceptable restrictions on transfers must be abolished.

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