February 27, 2013
Editor, Politics
An Italian phenomenon: Beppe Grillo, a comedian who challenges the political system. A rising Five-Star politician without a governance program. Founder of a new anti-austerity movement that won a quarters of the vote in last Sunday’s elections. A 25% that makes him a kingmaker. Without the participation of non-conformist Beppe Grillo no …
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February 13, 2013
Economy, Editor, Society
The statement of general secretary of Finance Ministry Giorgos Mergos that the minimum wage should be lowered set off to a fierce discussion. Many wonder, whether a further lowering was under way and whether Mergos just fired a flare to check reactions. The statements and assurances by the Labour and Finance ministries that no …
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February 6, 2013
Editor
As my tiny space capsule swings in an atmosphere full of grey fire-wood smog and yellow clouds full of Sahara clouds, I am sitting here wondering if I should call the ground control. I see an alarming situation emerging right before my dirty window. A coalition government having to deal …
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January 8, 2013
Editor
We, here in Greece, have been hearing the word “effort” since Samaras coalition government took power in June 2012. Some 20 to 30 times per day, we hear and/or read this magical word: EFFORT – especially when it comes to show the … efforts the Greek government make to get the country …
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January 2, 2013
Editor, Society
Everybody is warning us. The Environment Ministry, the National Centre for Disease Control & Prevention, the Greek Doctors’ Association. They all urge us to immediately stop burning wood in the fireplaces and stoves and turn on the heating oil or natural gas system to comfortably pass through the cold winter days. …
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November 12, 2012
Economy, Editor, Politics
Greek Parliament adopted the inhuman austerity bill and the sharp-cuts budget 2013. Two main preconditions for the debt-ridden country to receive the 31-billion-euro bailout tranche. Just recently, Prime minister Antonis Samaras had claimed, that the state has money until November 16th 2012. However Greece’s lenders do not seem willing to …
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November 8, 2012
Editor, Politics
With a marginal majority of 153 votes Greece’s coalition government under Prime Minister Antonis Samaras managed to pass the austerity package bill through the Greek Parliament. An austerity bill that is hard if not impossible to be implemented when in combination with the Budget 2013 will send millions of people to …
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October 9, 2012
Editor, Politics
What does the Greek government expect from German Chancellor on visit today? What is Angela Merkel willing to give? Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s highest expectation is to have the negative climate against Greece changed. And thus before the crucial EU Summit on October 18th 2012. First of all, Samaras expects …
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October 4, 2012
Editor
Is this a swan song we’ve been listening here? A song sung by a corrupt political system and a society in despair? No, it’s not. Because the swan song is supposed to be beautiful even though the last one before death. But what we’re experiencin ghere is ungly. And I wouldn’t know …
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September 19, 2012
Economy, Editor
I am totally baffled! And with me, millions of Greeks following the negotiations between Athens and the Troika, the bargain on the austerity measures to come with the €11.5-billion package. On Friday, we read about the raise of retirement age from 65 to 67, on Monday we read “the Troika doubts the …
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September 6, 2012
Editor, Society
It came as expected. Employees affected by the upcoming wages cuts included in the 11.5-billion-euro package took to the streets. Policemen, firefighters, coastal guards, judges, academics, teachers, doctors, tax officers. Greece’s public sector is boiling. Civil servants protest and strike and threaten with escalation of their mobilization. Sept 6/2012 – Athens: Riot …
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August 24, 2012
Economy, Editor
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is holding a face-to-face meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Greek PM is seeking to extent Greece’s time to meet bailout-imposed fiscal targets. Samaras needs two more years. For the economy to breath, as he said recently. then the recession has hit the debt-ridden …
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August 14, 2012
Editor
Dear KTG-ians, Ladies and Gentlemen, I am proud to announce that “there are no news” worth to report about! It’s middle of August, one day before the holiday of Virgin Mary, and everybody is gone. Gone for vacation. Or hidden at home to ‘hide’ one has no money for vacation. Shops …
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August 6, 2012
Economy, Editor
The Troika left, Greek politicians were left behind. In Athens. Greece’s lenders inspectors left the Greek capital Athens on Sunday after they laid the country’s coalition government leaders on Procrustes* bed. Representatives from IMF, EU and ECB did not stretched them on the rogue’s bed. Instead, they cut so much it needed to fit to …
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July 31, 2012
Economy, Editor, Politics, Uncategorized
There is something odd about the talks between Greece’s government partners Antonis Samaras (ND), Evangelos Venizelos (PASOK) and Fotis Kouvelis (Democratic Left). The three leaders, their parties’ committees and negotiation teams from several ministries have been apparently talking about the 11-billion-euro package of Troika-measures under the guidelines of Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras …
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July 24, 2012
Editor
Somebody must have had a promiscuous sense of humour to send the Greece’s lenders, the so-called “Troika”, to Athens today. On the 38th Anniversary of the “Restoration of Democracy” that marks the end of the military dictatorship in Greece, on 24th July 1974. Who arranged this arrival on such day? Christine Lagarde? Jose …
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June 15, 2012
Editor
Athens. Friday, June 15, 2012. Six o’ clock in the afternoon. Two days before the elections. I am sitting in front of my pc. The sun is shining with full power on the walls of my office. A fan fights to get me a breath. The cat insists on laying on my …
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May 24, 2012
Editor, Politics, Society
Italian Prime Minister Mario Monti supports ND Antonis Samaras, French President Francois Hollande support PASOK Evangelos Venizelos. The two leaders of the Greek parties that definitely support the austerity bailout. At the same time a, while the country heads for fresh elections, Greeks have developed an allergy towards the austerity and the …
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May 16, 2012
Editor, Politics
“Elections are over, long live the new elections!” This could be the slogan in Greece after 10-day government talks failed to come to a solution of a sustainable government. This happened for two reasons: First, because the austerity-hit and frustrated Greek voters were dispersed in all four directions of the political spectrum, thus …
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May 12, 2012
Editor
It is a common accepted reality that mass media have an inclination to sensationalism. German weekly SPIEGEL got together “Five Horror-Scenarios for Athens” amid political instability due to failed coalition government talks, the perspective of a left anti-bailout government and international threats for Euro exit. To the wishful thinking of SPEIGEL belongs also …
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