A blow to democracy.<br/> <br />That's how Greek opposition leader Alexis Tsipras described on Friday the government's decision to abruptly shut down state broadcaster ERT.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Greek) OPPOSITION LEADER, ALEXIS TSIPRAS, SAYING:<br/> <br />"Such things happen on only on two occasions, minister: only when there is a foreign invasion of a country or when there is a collapse of democracy."<br/> <br />But Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras said a leaner, better broadcaster WILL relaunch, and the move was necessary to rid ERT of waste and corruption.<br/> <br />(SOUNDBITE) (Greek) FINANCE MINISTER, YANNIS STOURNARAS, SAYING:<br/> <br />"I would like to remind you of what you said on May 18. You said then that it was a channel of a dictatorship government, a channel of bailout propaganda. I think today you are crying crocodile tears."<br/> <br />The shut down stunned many Greeks, and prompted protests and union strikes.<br/> <br />On Friday, ERT employees continued to transmit live TV and radio shows for a fourth
