The managements of Greek state-run enterprises seem to be very forgetful. So forgetful, that they “forgot” to implement government decisions concerning wages cuts for thousands of employees at state-run enterprises (DEKO) and other state bodies and organizations. Even worst: the government forgot to control if laws and decisions are been …
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German ForeignMinister Westerwelle: No Renegotiation of Greece’s Austerity Cuts
German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle has ruled out any renegotiation of Greece’s budget austerity program. Even though Greek coalition government partners ND, PASOK and Democratic Left are readying to ask a two year extension for meet deficit targets. “I see desires emerging in Greece to renegotiate and substantially question the …
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Greek Gov’t Partner Kouvelis: “The Risk of Bankruptcy Still Existent”
“The risk of bankruptcy in Greece is still existent,” Fotis Kouvelis, leader of Democratic Left and coalition government partner, warned on Thursday. Speaking to private Skai TV Kouvelis said, “It is an extremely difficult situation, we are in deep recession and nothing is given.” Talking about a comprehensive government plan for the next four …
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CEO of Greece’s Privatization Fund (TAIPED) Resigned
CEO of Greece’s privatization fund (TAIPED) Costas Mitropoulos resigned on Thursday afternoon. According To Vima, Mitropoulos will officially submit his resignation on upcoming Monday and he will explain the reasons for his decision. The daily stresses on its online edition that Prime Minister Antonis Samaras wanted anyway to replace high-ranking …
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Greek Gov’t Hires an Army of 49 General Secretaries
A miracle happened overnight. The Greek government swelled and doubled itself.. After several days of consultations between the coalition government partners Nea Dimocratia, PASOK and Democratic Left, the names of the General Secretaries assigned to the country’s ministries were announced: An army of 49 people! 9 more than the 40 ministers. …
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10+1 Golden Benefits & Privileges for 300 Members of Greek Parliament
A total of 20,203 euro is spent per month by the Greek parliament for each of its elected members: MP compensation, several open and hidden benefits, additional income through participation in committees as well as operational costs for their offices make it an expensive hobby for thousands of Greeks suffering …
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Greek President Cancels “Restoration of Democracy” Celebration Due to Economic Crisis
Unfortunately there would be no celebrations this year to mark the restoration of democracy – due to the economic crisis. The office of Greek President Karolos Papoulias announced on Monday that there will be no celebrations this year to mark the 38th anniversary of the fall of the military dictatorship in 1974. «The event …
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Survey: 51% of Greeks Believe Coalition Gov’t “Unable to Resolve Country’s Problems”
Most Greeks believe their new coalition government is unable to resolve their near-bankrupt country΄s problems, according to the first poll published after the repeat elections on June 17, 2012. The poll conducted by Public Issue for Skai TV found 51 percent of Greeks believe the government is unable to tackle …
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Merkel Gives Greeks “Just a Couple of Weeks” Extension to Meet Deficit Goals
What if the Greek government tries to get together a ‘national negotiation team’. What if Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is willing to go to Brussels together with his coalition partners Evangelos Venizelos (PASOK) and Fotis Kouvelis (Democratic Left) and renegotiate the bailout programme face to face with Greece’s lenders. Athens is reportedly to ask two …
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Greek Deputy Minister: “I Came to Your TV-Show Because I Have Nothing to Do at the Ministry”
Greek Deputy Health Minister Fotini Skopouli is claiming the “Oscar for Sincerity”. She appeared in the morning magazine of state broadcaster NET TV on Tuesday. What the professor for Pathology-Immunology at the Harokopio University said stunned the journalists and the viewers alike – and more than those, Samaras’ government as well. “I came to …
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HRW: Greek Police Ignore Rising Attacks On Migrants
The Greek authorities are failing to tackle a rising wave of xenophobic violence that has left migrants afraid to walk the streets. In the 99-page report, “Hate on the Streets: Xenophobic Violence in Greece,” the Human Rights Watch documents the failure of the police and the judiciary to prevent and punish …
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Deputy Labour Minister Resigns Hours After Samaras Gov’t Gets Confidence Vote
The confidence to Greek government did not last long. Twelve hours after Samaras’ coalition government won the confidence vote at the parliament, one of its ministers put down his pen and resigned. Nikos Nikolopoulos, deputy Minister for Labour, Social Security & Welfare submitted his resignation to prime minister Antonis Samaras. The …
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Samaras & Greece’s Coalition Government Win Vote of Confidence
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his coalition government won the vote of confidence. As expected all 179 MPs from conservative Nea Dimocratia, socialist PASOK and Democratic Left voted in favor of the government programme. 121 MPs from the opposition voted “No”. Now we have to see whether the government will start …
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Tsipras Calls Samaras’ Coalition Government “Merkelists”
Main opposition leader Alexis Tsipras from left-wing SYRIZa called the party leaders of Samaras coalition government “Merkelists”. During the debate on the government programme, Tsipras criticized the coalition government stressing that the politics of Memorandum of Understanding leads Greece out of the euro. Addressing the three leader of the coalition …
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Left Parties Abandon Parliament Hall When Golden Dawn Leader Starts Speaking
This was never seen before in the Greek parliament. Hardly had speaker Vaggelis Meimarakis invited Nikos Michaloliakos, leader of extreme-right Golden Dawn (Chrysi Avgi) to take the floor, immediately more than 100 MPs stood up. However for very different reasons. Various Greek MPs abandon Parliament to protest Golden Dawn Party leaders and 71 MPs from main opposition …
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Samaras’ Government Seeks Vote of Confidence on Sunday Midnight
It’s kind of difficult to catch up with the Greek politics and economy after a week’s summer break. While I was away, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras returned to office after the eye surgery recovery and read the government programme at the Greek Parliament. On Friday Samaras revealed nine steps that would …
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Outrage Over €1,000 Elections Bonus for Greek Parliament Employees
HA! If that’s not a provocation for the majority of Greeks especially those in the private sector struggling to make ends meet… Parliament speaker Vyron Polydoras approved to pay to parliament personnel an flat allowance of 1,000 euro due to overtime work because of the two elections in May and …
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Cameron Wants to Halt Greek Immigration to UK, Greek Socialists Angry
British Prime Minister David Cameron plans to halt immigration of Greeks to UK, should Greece exit thee euro zone. “It is in UK’s best interests to impose stringent border controls if Greece is forced to leave euro,” Cameron told British MPs on Wenesday. The worst-case scenario is understood to cover …
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PM Samaras Meets the Troika, Finance Minister Sworn-in
Slowly and gradually Greece got its government complete. Yiannis Stournaras was sworn-in as Finance Minister on Thursday morning and thus under the presence of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras. He made his first official appearance after his eye surgery almost two weeks ago. Antonis Samaras seemed in good mood even thought …
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Greek Parliament: 300 MPs Were Sworn-in; When Will Samaras Get Confidence Vote?
Greece’ new parliament finally convened on Thursday. 300 MPs elected in June 17 elections were sworn-in in a religious ceremony. Even thought members of left-wing SYRIZA and communist KKE refrained form taking a religious oath. Three Muslim MPs were sworn-in to the Quran. The ceremony took place in absence of …
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