“There won’t be new austerity measures in 2012, if the measures voted in March would be fully implemented.” These is what Greek media report after Wednesday’s meeting of ten ministers and deputy ministers with Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras. “Key issue is to have paved the way for the austerity measures worth 11.6 billion euro for 2013-2014 and thus before July 23rd, before the Troika arrives in Athens.”
Citing government sources, Greek media report that the government tries to find measures equivalent to 205 million euro to avoid wages cuts in the special payrolls of judicial personnel, state hospital doctors etc.
Especially for the case of the Greek Armed Forces the Defence Ministry has apparently found alternative saving ways to bypass the wages cuts.
40 million euro in 2012 and 120 million in 2013, will be saved through ‘relocation’ of payments for armement programmes and re-examination of certain contracts. Furthermore, the option to extend military service from 9 to 12 months in order to limit the contracts for professional reservists.
Ths Greek proposal would be submitted to the Troika for approval and it has temporary duration.
At the meeting, the ministers and deputy ministers examined each and every sector where they could apply cuts.
Expenditure in education, healthcare, defence, social security were checked with a magnifying glass and the big sharp knife is expected to cut subsidiaries to state bodies and investment programmes. (ProtoThema, To Vima, Ethnos).
Translating the government plans into a simple news language, we could say that:
1) Austerity measures with a total of 15 billion euro for 2012, 2013 and 2014 will be implemented in … some way. Only then additional measures could be avoided.
2) In order for the government will avoid 12% cuts in wages of civil servants (special payrolls) major cuts will be done in several sectors.
Who will pay for the 205 million euro?
Most probably the child that will get no books or heating. Or even no teacher. Most likely the Greek patient who will see prescription medicine disappearing from the doctors’ list. Very possible the hospital patient who will have to bring his cotton, syringes and toilet paper. And all those needy who desperately need social benefits.
Investment would be also a big #FAIL.
PS I think they’re kidding us…
Good idea, because bad thins happen in my country when they cut military monies