Keep Talking Greece

Third Greek official resigns in phantom power plant charges

March 11, 2013 1

Development ministry general secretary Spyros Eystathopoulos resigned on Monday morning. Eystathopoulos’ resignation is the third in the context of the scandal of a phantom power plant in Aliveri that cost Greek Public Power Company (DEH) a loss of 100 million euro. Head of Greek privatisation fund, Takis Athanasopoulos, and the general secretary …

Two top resignations in Greece’s privatization fund and Finance Ministry

March 10, 2013 1

Head of Greek privatisation fund, Takis Athanasopoulos, and the general secretary of Finance ministry Giorgos Mergos resigned on Saturday after the former managers of Public Power Company (DEH) were charged with breach of duty. Both Athanasopoulos and Mergos were on board of DEH. The head of Greece’s privatization fund, Takis …

Nigeria hostages: Greek Foreign Ministry confirms death of Greek citizen

March 10, 2013 Comments Off on Nigeria hostages: Greek Foreign Ministry confirms death of Greek citizen

Greek Foreign Ministry ocnfirmed on Sunday, that one Greek citizen was among the siven hostages killed by Nigerian Islamist group Ansaru. Foreign Ministry in fact confirms the claims of Ansaru statement it had killed seven Christian hostages, abducted on February 16th 2013. Greek Foreign Ministry said in a statement: “The …

Athens: “Portugal shows the way” anti-austerity protest, Mar 10/2013

March 10, 2013 12

“Poverty, unemployment, suicides… Enough! Portugal shows the way!” That’s the main slogan that expects to take thousand austerity-hit Greeks to the streets on Sunday, March 10th 2013. The call to the mass protest is made throug social media, Facebook and Twitter. Syntagma Square, 6 p.m., March 10th 2013

Greek Granny goads riot police at gold mining protest with wartime song (video)

March 8, 2013 3

A fragile Greek granny appeared fearless in front of riot police in Ierissos Gold mining. During the protest on Thursday, the granny hoarsely sang a wartime revolutionary song and goaded riot police squads to come over. “Bullets and cannons do not scare us…” the granny sung under the surgery mask she …

Drugs speculators threaten lives of Greek patients – Price scandals like in UK

March 8, 2013 14

One by one, 203 drugs in total have disappeared from the Greek pharmaceutical market during the last months. Of them “25 are unique and 3 are irreplaceable” state NET Tv said this morning. “The lack of three or four caused treatment problems to patients therefore they were imported by IFET, the …

Athenians stood line for free grilled meat to celebrate Tsiknopempti

March 7, 2013 1

There are these Greek traditions…. always celebrated with lots of food. There are Greek traditions people can hardly afford to celebrate anymore due to the economic crisis. “Tsiknopempti” today, the so-called “Grilling or Meat Day”, right in the middle of Carnival season, a day marked with meat consumption, prior to long Easter Lent. …

Bailout tranche balckmail: Troika wants 25K lay-offs from Greek public sector

March 7, 2013 Comments Off on Bailout tranche balckmail: Troika wants 25K lay-offs from Greek public sector

Every two-three months the same procedure… Greece’s lenders increase pressure on the government of the debt-ridden country that hesitates to proceed with the Troika’s demands. This time the issue of lay-offs in the public sector lays high on the negotiation table. Greek media report, that the Troika gave a very clear …

Skouries Gold Mine: Clashes between residents & police, tear gas in school

March 7, 2013 1

Broader clashes between angry residents and police started on Tuesday morning in Ierissos, Chalkidiki, the area where the disputed gold mining triggers tension. Greek media report that the residents started the incidents when they attempted to hinder police units from searching in some homes of the area. picture @katerinaelikaki Tear gas in school …

Athens prosecutor charges three ex ministers for not full assets declarations

March 6, 2013 6

Two former Nea Dimocratia and one ex PASOK ministers were charged by a prosecutor for not fully declare their assets. Three formers ministers – Petros Doukas, Yiannos Papantoniou and Giorgos Voulgarakis – were charged on Wednesday over failing to fully declare their assets in annual derivation of wealth (“pothen esches”) …

Horse DNA found in Greek “farmhouse” sausages

March 6, 2013 2

Greek Food Control Authority (EFET) found horse DNA in sausages. The specific product with the name “farmhouse sausage” had the commercial name “Nostima” (delicious). The sausages have been produced-packed by a company in Northeastern Greece. near Alexandroupolis. The sausages were bearing production date 23. Feb 2013 and expire date 25. Mar …

Channel 4: police & prosecutor intervene in racist Golden Dawn documentary

March 6, 2013 2

The tolerance towards the incredible racism expressed by members of extreme-right party Golden Dawn was of very short duration. Hours after the video started to flood Greek media and internet sites, police intervened and sent the excerpts from the documentary broadcast on UK Channel 4 News to the prosecutor. The Department against …