The Greek government-debt crisis began in 2009 and ended in 2018. During this period, many changes had occurred in Greece. The income of many Greeks has declined, levels of unemployment have increased, elections and resignations of politicians have altered the country's political landscape radically, the Greek parliament has passed many austerity bills, and protests have become common sights throughout the country.

Background

Greece joined the European Communities (subsequently subsumed by the European Union) on 1 January 1981, ushering in a period of sustained growth. Widespread investments in industrial enterprises and heavy infrastructure, as well as funds from the European Union and growing revenues from tourism, shipping and a fast-growing service sector raised the country's standard of living to unprecedented levels. The country adopted the Euro in 2001 and over the next 7 years the country's GDP per capita more than doubled, from $13,070 in 2001 to $28,660 in 2008.World Bank Data, http://data.worldbank.org/country/greece The Greek government, encouraged by the European Commission, European Central Bank, private banking institutions, and the Greek business community also took out loans to pay Greek and foreign infrastructure companies for a wide variety of infrastructure projects such as those related to the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens. Government deficits were also consistently underreported. As the 2008 financial crisis began to affect Greece's economy, the country's GDP stagnated between 2008 and 2010 and the government's capacity to repay its creditors was drastically reduced.

2009 Political events 4 October 2009 – The centre-left PASOK wins the Greek legislative elections. The party received 43.92% of the popular vote and 160 of 300 parliamentary seats.

Financial events 20 October 2009 – Greece's budget deficit is expected to reach ~12.5% of GDP, according to disclosure by George Papaconstantinou, finance minister in Greece's new PASOK government (Cabinet of George Papandreou). This deficit exceeds a threshold of 3% of GDP which was set in the Stability and Growth Pact for all eurozone member states. 22 October 2009 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Fitch, one of the Big Three credit ratings agencies, from A to A−. 8 December 2009 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Fitch from A− to BBB+. 16 December 2009 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Standard and Poor's, another of the Big Three credit ratings agencies. 23 December 2009 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Moody's, the third of the Big Three credit ratings agencies, from A1 to A2.

2010

Political events 9 February 2010 – The First austerity package is passed by the Greek parliament. Measures include: a freeze in the salaries of all government employees, a 10% cut in bonuses, and cuts in overtime workers. 3 March 2010 – The Second austerity package is passed by the Greek parliament. Measures include: a freeze in pensions; an increase in VAT from 19% to 21%; rises in taxes on fuel, cigarettes, and alcohol; rises in taxes on luxury goods; and cuts in public sector pay. 23 April 2010 – Prime Minister George Papandreou formally requests an international bailout for Greece. The European Union (EU), European Central Bank (ECB) and International Monetary Fund (IMF) agree to participate in the bailout. 2 May 2010 – The IMF, Greek Prime Minister Papandreou, and other eurozone leaders agree to the First bailout package for €110 billion ($143 billion) over 3 years. The Third austerity package is announced by the Greek government. 5 May 2010 – Greece-wide riots and popular revolt break out as Greece turns violent. There is a 48-hour nationwide strike and demonstrations in two major cities. Three people are killed when a group of masked people throw petrol bombs in a Marfin Egnatia Bank branch on Stadiou street. 6 May 2010 – The Third austerity package is passed by the Greek parliament. 7 July 2010 – The Greek parliament passes pension reform, a key requirement of the EU and IMF. Measures include: increasing retirement age from 60 to 65 for women. The reforms cut prospective payments from 25% of GDP by 2050. Additional pension reforms come in November 2012. 15 December 2010 – The Greek parliament passes a new law regarding state-owned companies. The law sets a cap on monthly wages and introduces 10% cuts on salaries above €1,800. 23 December 2010 – The Greek parliament approves the 2011 austerity budget.

Financial events 21 January 2010 – The Greek/German 10-year debt yield spread surpasses 300 basis points (the interest rate in Greece was 3% above that in Germany). 9 April 2010 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Fitch from BBB+ to BBB−. 22 April 2010 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Moody's from A2 to A3. 27 April 2010 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Standard & Poor's below investment grade to junk bond status. Standard & Poor's is the last of the Big Three credit ratings agencies to downgrade Greece's credit rating in April 2010. 28 April 2010 – The Greek/German 10-year debt yield spread surpasses 1000 basis points (the interest rate in Greece was 10% above that in Germany). 14 June 2010 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Moody's from A3 to Ba1. The downgrade follows a previous downgrade on 27 April 2010.

2011

Political events 25 May 2011 – The Greek Indignant Citizens Movement (also known as the Square Movement) starts daily protests. It is inspired by a similar movement in Spain. 17 June 2011 – The prime minister makes a broad cabinet reshuffle and Evangelos Venizelos assumes the position of finance minister. 29 June 2011 – The Fourth austerity package is passed by the Greek parliament despite protests outside the parliament building. The two-day demonstrations against the bill turn violent as protesters clash with police in front of the Greek parliament and other areas of central Athens. The measures in the austerity package include new taxes and new cuts of workers' wages. 11 September 2011 – The Greek parliament imposes a new property tax to be collected through the electricity bill. 20 October 2011 – The Fifth austerity package is passed by the Greek parliament, amid protests and violent rioting outside the parliament building. 27 October 2011 – The investors agree to a "haircut" of 50% in converting their existing bonds into new loans. 28 October 2011 – An anti-austerity protest in Thessaloniki forces the cancellation of a commemoration parade for a national holiday. Similar incidents occur in several other Greek cities. 31 October 2011 – Greek Prime Minister Papandreou calls for a confidence vote and a referendum to approve the EU summit deal from the previous week regarding the Greek debt haircut. 4 November 2011 – Papandreou wins the confidence vote 153–145. 6 November 2011 – Prime Minister Papandreou resigns. 10 November 2011 – Lucas Papademos becomes the new Greek Prime Minister, as the leader of a coalition government consisting of the PASOK, New Democracy, and LAOS parties.

Financial events 14 January 2011 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Fitch from BBB− to BB+. 7 March 2011 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Moody's from Ba1 to B1. 29 March 2011 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Standard and Poor's to BB−. 9 May 2011 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Standard and Poor's from BB− to B. 20 May 2011 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Fitch from BB+ to B+. 1 June 2011 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Moody's from B1 to Caa1. 13 June 2011 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Standard and Poor's to its lowest rating. 13 July 2011 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Fitch from B+ to CCC. 25 July 2011 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Moody's to Ca−. 27 July 2011 – Greece's credit rating is downgraded by Standard and Poor's from CCC to CC. 8 August 2011 – The Athens Stock Exchange general index falls below 1000 points, its lowest level since January 1997. December 2011 – Greece's private TV channel Alter stops broadcasting due to financial difficulties.

2012

Political events 12 February 2012 – The Sixth austerity package is passed by the Greek parliament amid violent protests. Many buildings in the centre of Athens are burned during the riots. 21 February 2012 – The Second bailout package is finalized. It brings the total amount of eurozone and IMF bailouts to €246 billion by 2016, which is 135% of Greece's GDP in 2013. 4 April 2012 – A retired pharmacist commits suicide a short distance from Greece's parliament as an act of protest against austerity. He becomes a symbol for groups opposing the austerity measures, and violent clashes between police and demonstrators erupt in Athens. 6 May 2012 – Elections are held. The New Democracy party wins, but with a smaller share of the popular vote and fewer seats than it had in the previous election. The governing PASOK party collapses, while more votes go to the left wing parties (Syriza, KKE, and DIMAR) and right wing parties (ANEL, XA). No party wins the majority of the parliament seats. 16 May 2012 – No coalition government is able to be formed, so Panagiotis Pikramenos assumes the position of caretaker Prime Minister. An early election is called for 17 June. 17 June 2012 – Early elections are held. The New Democracy party leads, winning 29.7% of the popular vote, but doesn't win a majority of seats in parliament. Four days later, a coalition government is formed between New Democracy, PASOK and DIMAR. Antonis Samaras, the president of New Democracy, becomes the new Prime Minister. 7 November 2012 – The Seventh austerity package is adopted by the Greek parliament. The austerity measures are required for Greece to receive the next installment, the second economic bailout, worth €31.5 billion. Protests occur outside the parliament. Austerity measures include: public pension cuts on average between 5% and 15% through the removal of two seasonal bonuses; an increase of the retirement age from 65 to 67; additional wage cuts for civil servants up to 20%; and public salary wage cuts up to 30%. 11 November 2012 – The Greek parliament passes the 2013 austerity budget.

Financial events 9 March 2012 – Greek 10-year bond yields reach a peak of 44.21% on the eve of debt restructuring. 83.5% of Greek bondholders are in the private sector. 25 May 2012 – The Athens Stock Exchange general index falls below 500 points.

2013

Political events 28 April 2013 – The Greek parliament approves a reform bill: it abolishes 15,000 state jobs by the end of 2014, including 4,000 in 2013; makes it easier to fire civil servants; increases the working hours of teachers; and cuts a property tax by 15%. 11 June 2013 – The Greek parliament shuts down the country's Public Broadcasting Service ERT. 21 June 2013 – The Democratic Left party withdraws from the Greek coalition government, which retains a razor-thin majority in parliament. 24 June 2013 – Prime Minister Samaras reshuffles his cabinet. 17 July 2013 – A new reform bill is passed by the Greek parliament. Measures include a contentious plan for thousands of layoffs and wage cuts for civil service workers. 21 December 2013 – A bill on the Single Property Tax and the auction of houses is approved by a majority of 152 deputies in the 300-seat chamber.

Financial events 30 November 2013 – Greece's credit rating is upgraded by Moody's to Caa3 from C.

2014

Political events 30 March 2014 – The Greek parliament passes a new multi-bill which is needed for Greece to receive its next bailout payment. Nikitas Kaklamanis, a member of parliament, is expelled from the government for abstaining from the vote on one of the bill's two articles, leaving the government with an even smaller majority. 9 May 2014 – The Greek Parliament approves the Medium-term Fiscal Strategy plan 2015-2018 18 May 2014 – Local elections are held. 25 May 2014 – Syriza wins the European Parliament election.