A large-scale rally commemorating a student uprising violently suppressed by the military junta on November 17, 1973, is expected to see thousands of protesters marching on the streets of down town Athens on Thursday.

The annual rally is also billed as a protest against austerity protest imposed by the former government led by George Papandreou and a warning to the newly appointed, national unity coalition headed by former Central European Bank deputy Lucas Papademos.

Central Athens streets around the Polytechneio and Parliament, among others, will be off bounds to vehicles as unions and student organizations are organizing a string of demonstrations which will culminate in a march outside the United Embassy on Thursday afternoon.

Some 7,000 policemen are being deployed in Athens for the day, which is invariably marred by violence between hooded protesters and riot police forces.

Disruptions in public transport services include a number of Athens metro stations closing their doors on Thursday afternoon: Panepistimiou station will close at noon, Syntagma Square at 1 p.m. while Evangelismos and Megaron Mousikis stations will close at 3 p.m.

Following a vote of confidence won by Lucas Papademos and his government on Wednesday, the new government is busily preparing to submit a budget to Parliament on Friday.

“Many people don’t expect any solution, but others hope too much. Deep inside, everyone knows policies cannot change and the measures may be even worse,» said Mary Bossis, professor of International Security at the University of Piraeus, speaking to Reuters.