What’s Up in Greece on Dec 7? tagged: , , , , ,

What’s Up in Greece on Dec 7?

Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Very Mix

“Empty pockets” are up in Greece -not only today though, as a series of tax contributions arrive one after the other and many social groups realized that they were deprived of ‘social benefits’ without notice. Not to mention the cuts in the medical care and prescription medication. The postman is about to bring a “Christmas present to more than 200,000 households and ask in the average a 650-EUR contribution – emergency solidarity tax and property tax. Yes, Greeks will give gifts to the state instead to their families.

The most cuel Budget of all times was voted last night in the Greek Parliament with the overwhelming majority of 258 votes because of the three-party coalition government. The budget 2012 got also the votes of the tiny party of ex-FM Dora Bakoyanni. three PASOK MPs and one from Nea Dimokratiavoted ‘NO’. Budget 2012 is expected to kneel the already burdened Greek households witha dramatic decline in the income of employees and pensioners, and to affect even those with low income who will have to pay the ‘solidarity tax’ due to lowering the taxation cap. Speaking to Parliament, PM Lucas Papademos said “The storm will last, and there are signs of growth in 2013″.

Alternate Foreign Minister Marilisa Xenogiannakopoulou told private Skai radio this morning that “Greece must do everything to ensure its position in the euro area. The debate on exit from the euro is unthinkable, but there is physical danger since there is a …flow” [HM?]

Greece’s insurance funds have a nice black hole of 3.5 billion euro due to recession, unemployment and inability of paying the contributions.

George Papandreou seems to be stuck on the chair of PASOK leadership even though some of his party-colleagues ask him to go. Papandreou’s insistence has been documented by a picture taken yesterday at the Greek Parliament.

An explosive device went up in the early morning hours of Wednesday at a tax office in Patras, western Greece. There could be an organized action against tax offices as there have been some similar incidents in recent weeks across the country.

Seventeen tax offices more across the country will close down in the context of restructuring the public sector.

Financial Crime Units (SDOE) of Greek Finance Ministry arrested the CEO of “Kavala Oil” for owing the state 725,000 euro. The company complained that there was an agreement with the Finance Ministry that KavalaOil debts will be redeemed with the state’s debts to the mother company “Energean Oil & Gas”. The company claims the state owes 7.29 million euro form tax return. And that the agreement was achieved on November 29th 2011. Go figure…

The pedophile teacher from Crete got a punch in the face while he was taken to court. Nikos Siragakis got beaten by the owner of the coffee shop at the Rethymnon court. The child molester was taken to court under heavy security measures due to fear of angry parents’ reactions…

Infant Formula for newborns (until 4/5 months) will be sold in the supermarkets with a price decuction of 20%. Until now the baby milk was sold only at pharmacies. The measure aiming to help low income parents will most likely come into force in the first months of 2012 after it will be approved by the EU.

In case you wonder what happened with state broadcast ERT/NET and their news programmes. The staff is on strike since almost 10 days. So there ar eno news…

Greek banks consider a sharp cut in payrolls of their staff as of 2012 and the plans speak of wages cuts from 10% to 35% and four-day work. The banks calculate that with these measures, they will save up to 50 million euro per year.

Kids, I see the recession growing really wild….

PS If you’d need to visit a public hospital be sure to bring some cotton with you. reports started anew that there are shortages in simple material there.