I need to start slowly this year because 2014 ended lots of unpleasant incidents, with marine and politcial shipwrecks, with drama, agony and tears.
The number of dead and missing from the fire on the Norman Atlantic still remains unclear. A group of relatives of Greek passengers who have not contacted their families since last Sunday is about fly to Italy and try to get information about their beloved ones. “We will check every hospital, every possible place” a relative told Skai TV this morning.
Politically, the year 2014 ended with the … end of Greece’s coalition government as snap polls will take place on 25. January. The pre-election campaign started already right after the Parliament failed to elect the President, and Nea Dimokratia is engaging in a rally of scare mongering against main opposition, left-wing SYRIZA. The party of PM Antonis Samaras’ claims that SYRIZA will push the country out of the eurozone and bring back the Drachma.
PASOK has to deal with its own internal problems, as former PM George Papandreou is determined to form his own party. The announcement of the new political player is scheduled for tomorrow, Saturday afternoon.
Greece’s mainstream media are devoted to undermine SYRIZA’s win that is being considered as certain.
On the taxation front, there are some changes for the New Year, but who wants to know them on 2. January?
The bad weather front that swept the country with low temperatures, strong winds, snow and frost left many areas without electricity for several hours.
Despite the freezing cold, Greeks gathered on New Year’s Eve in downtown Athens and welcomed 2015 with an impressive fireworks spectacle with Acropolis in the background.
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PS I suppose Amphipolis went down with Samaras’ government 😛
You rock! Keep it up, you are the only real source of Greek news in English! Everyone keeps an eye on your posts, from Italian media to German media to Zerohedge to Max Keiser! Thank your for your hard work!
I thank you 🙂