Latest on ERT: Dismissed ERT-journalists on air, while their colleagues on strike

The decision of Greek government to shut down practically overnight the public radio & television broadcaster ERT has triggered a big wave of reactions but also a what it seems to be a major political crisis among Samaras’ coalition government partners. As there is a continuous influx of information coming from national and international level I’ll try to summarize the latest most important news:

ERT journalists

ERT journalists defy the government decision to abandon the headquarters of ERT and keep broadcasting a live program that is been transmitted with the aid of telecommunication company OTE. Unconfirmed reports claimed that OTE personnel defied management (government) orders to cut off the transmission.There is no Greek website that has not put a link to a live stream from NET.

 ERT/ live stream here

In the early morning hours of Wednesday, there were rumors that riot police was about to storm the building and ‘free it from the occupying journalists. However it seems as if the government stepped back from taking the issue to the edges.

The government has allegedly warned the ERT journalists that they will not be allowed to submit applications to be hired in the new public broadcaster, if they don’t give up the occupation.

Thousands of people, mostly journalists, unionists but also common people spent the night outside ERT headquarters to show solidarity with ERT personnel. A total of 2,656 people are to start receiving their dismissal papers as of today.

outside ERT on Wednesday

A solidarity concert outside ERT is scheduled for 5 o’ clock in the afternoon.

Journalists on strike

At the same time, journalists union ESHEA declared a 48-strike for journos at private radio & television companies. The strike started at 6 am Wednesday. Excepted from the strike are only broadcasts that have to do with the ERT shutdown.  Newspaper journalists will launch a 24-hour strike tomorrow Thursday at 6 am. The journalists’ strike may be extended.

General strike June 13/2013

Unions of public and private sector ADEDY and GSEE will launch a 24-hour general strike tomorrow, Thursday, june 13th 2013 to express solidarity with ERT personnel.

Irony of digital TV era

With the shut down of ERT, also the Greek Parliament channel, the BBC World, Deutsche Welle, Cyprus national broadcaster RIK and French TV5 disappeared from the TV screens of Greeks.

While Greece moved to digital TV last summer, a total of 8 TV channels have been blackened. Now we can be bombarded with non-stop Turkish serials and reality shows, 1000 cooking courses and 10000 telemarketing programs. It’s maybe trash TV but it’s digital!

New ERT = NERIT

Last night,  it was not clear when the new, reconstructed and lean Greek public broadcaster will be set up. Rumors where claiming to be launched in September or at least before the end of the year. This morning, the government sent the message that the new broadcaster may be on relay in July or even end of June.

The ERT successor will bear the weird name “NERIT” (New Greek Radio Internet Television). The personnel will be 1,000-1,200 people.

Coalition government at risk

the decision of prime minister Samaras to shutdown ERT met the discontent of his coalition partners PASOK and Democratic Left. Greek media claim that the two coalition government partners are going to down vote the Legislation Act that shut down ERT. They are allegedly ready even to trigger early elections, if Samaras does not step back and reverse his decision.

During a debate in the Parliament this morning, tension was high as expected. Nea Dimocratia MPs defended Samaras’s decision claiming that “finally the country is changing”. PASOK MPs questioned whether this Greek government is a ‘coalition or consists of only one party.”

Some opposition parties are considering to submit a confidence motion against the government.

Government spokesman and minister in charge of ERT, Simos Kedikoglou told media this morning that the decision for the shutdown was taken 6 weeks ago and that colaition partners PASOK and Democratic Left were informed about it last Sunday.

MPs from DemLeft dismissed Kedikoglou’s claims, saying that there was discussion about reconstructing ERT, not shutting it down.

But PASOK issued a statement confirming that Venizelos and Kouvelis (DemLeft) were informed about the shutdown on Sunday.

The is no doubt that the decision was taken some time ago, as the government was in position to present the full reconstruction plan on Wednesday morning.

PASOK officials are to meet today and decide whether they will continue to support Samaras coalition.

European Commission

The European commission felt the need to respond to accusations that ERT was shut down after Greece’s lenders, the Troika of EU, IMF & ECB demanded so in order to boost savings in the debt-ridden country.

The EC issued a statement saying that the decision was taken by the Greek government in “full autonomy”. At the same time it states that “public sector broadcasters are important,” but insists that “it can’t interfere in Greek government’s business”.

Question

I don’t understand this government logic: Kedikoglou said that the ERT personnel will be laid-off and get full compensation but it could apply for job vacancies in the NERIT.

How much money will the compensation cost to Greek taxpayers if the people will be hired again???

More KTG-News on ERT shutdown here

PS what I consider as the best of ERT shutdown is that the Finance Ministry and Yiannis Stournaras took control of ERT ‘management’. The Greek FinMin will provide the leaders of political parties with camera crews so that there will be coverage of their appearances, statements etc.

See this before die: Stournaras commenting on live sports events 🙂