Ten professional associations, trade unions and pensioner unions and 22 private individuals filed a petition with the Council of State (CoS) on Thursday demanding that the economic measures imposed by the government be declared void, characterized as unconstitutional and in violation of the European legislation, the European Human Rights Convention and international treaties.

Among the petitioners are the Athens Bar Association, the Athens Journalists' Union, the civil servants' union ADEDY, the National Health System (ESY) medical doctors, the Technical Chamber of Greece, military officers associations and university professors.

In a press conference they outlined the reasons that led them to this decision citing procedural violations in passing the relevant legislation in parliament; illegally conferred authority from the parliament to the minister of finance and violation of the right to property (referring to the salary and pension cuts) guaranteed by the European Human Rights Convention.