Breathtaking sums totaling one billion euro was given by several Greek governments to banks, law firms and financial advisers during the years of loan agreements 2010-2012 . Alexis Tsipras, leader of main opposition party left-wing SYRIZA posed an official question to Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras.
Citing figures from the state budget, Tsipras said that the relevant expenditure “has risen sharply during the years of loan agreements, while the country has been excluded form the markets. Specifically, the cost has more than tripled in the first two years of memoranda and has increased tenfold by 2012. ”
The leader of SYRIZA noted that in 2012 – the year of PSI- the relevant expenditure amounted to 635 million euro and gave as examples
“As consultants for the PSI, the LAZARD company received €25 million and the law firm CGSH (Hamilton) €6 million and €1.5 million per delayed month.”
Alexis Tsipras noted further that the total amount of €1.116 billion was given for consulting services in a period in which “austerity measure took the Greek society to rash impoverishment.”
Now the main opposition party asks according to which procedures the consultants companies were chosen, how much money each company was paid, their contracts with the Greek state and other technical details. (source)
PS To the list of Tsipras’ questions, I would also add whether there was any benefit for the country and also investigate whether there were any connections between government members and these companies. But I am not a politician, right?
Troika lenders to Greece: what if you don’t pay not a single pension in 2014? (!!!)
http://tiny.cc/8twx7w
I suppose it’s a matter of interpretation whether the Troika demands the non-payment of new pensions.
Asking banks for advice re finances is really like asking an alcoholic if he would like some more alcohol…You should indeed ask about connections to various politicians etc. But you should also ask about inter connections. These guys will always put in a good word for their buddies when they can. So, everything they suggested, who stood to benefit from it? Obviously not the people of Greece…
that’s what I said I would ask 🙂