Keep Talking Greece Greek News in English, Blog, Wit & Drama

Now we know why EU Task Force members, Reichenbach & Co, are keen to come to Greece and extend a helping hand with know-how and other nice things. We may also understand, why the reforms do not proceed as quickly as they should. Because on Greek taxpayers expenses the esteemed helpers, preferably the …

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The slaughtered body of a 12-year old Roma boy was found by passersby in “Vlychos” area of Megara, in Viotia prefecture of Greece. According to Greek police, the body of the unlucky boy had wounds in the abdomen, chest and neck caused by a knife. It is not known whether the …

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A Greek court  fined a tax driver with 14,000 euro for failing to pay highway tolls. The tax driver crossed 73 times the toll posts of Rio, Zevgolatio and Elefsis for 1. July 2011 until 30. August 2012 without paying the toll fees. The consortium of Olympia Odos, the company …

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Municipality of Preveza in Western Greece, took a pioneer step in the care of stray dogs and cats. It will charge residents with one euro via the bills for Municipality Water & Sewerage  issued every three months. These revenues will be spent for the needs of strays in municipality shelter and …

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Greek tycoon and former main shareholder of Proton Bank Lavrentis Lavrentiadis was arrested Thursday afternoon in Athens over a case of alleged transfer of hundreds of millions of euros to companies of his own interests in form of commercial loans. Right after his arrest, Lavrentiadis, 40, was taken to a hospital apparently …

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 Blue-eyed Angelina had the misfortune of being born in Greece in 2010, just as the country became engulfed by an economic crisis that has deprived her parents, like so many Greeks, of their jobs and livelihood, AFP reports. Today, Angelina’s family lives in the run-down district of Palia Kokkinia, near …

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Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras declared that the Grexit era was dead. Speaking in Brussels to reporters after the Eurogroup approved the mammoth bailout fund of 52.5 billion euro, an obviously relieved Samaras said: “Solidarity in our union is alive, ‘Grexit’ is dead. Greece is back on its feet.The sacrifices …

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After pressure by the Troika and Greek taxpayers outrage, finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras modified for one more time the three taxation categories for employees and pensioners. According to Greek media, Stournaras is due to present to today’s Eurogroup the following scheme: 22% tax rate for annual income up to 25,000 …

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After several months of tough negotiations, additional austerity measures and crucial delays, the finance ministers of the euro zone approved the disbursement of 52.5 billion euro bailout funds, consisting of three tranches due in 2012. The mammoth fund will be given to Greece in three tranches: the 34.3 billion euro …

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Greek tax evaders with assets abroad are wrapped up in lists. After, the Swiss Lagarde-list (2,59 names) and the British Jersey-list (97 names), two more lists have reached the Finance ministry, while a third is apparently on the way. Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras revealed that two lists containing the names of …

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I saw this one man recently while I was turning my usual walking rounds at the coast of Athens, in Palaio Faliro. A man in his late 40’s, tall, well-built, dressed in cord trousers and jacket, shirt and pullover. From far away, I had the feeling the man was standing or walking extremely slowly. …

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Municipality workers will launch several 48-hour strikes to protest the measure of labour reserve that will send several hundreds home with 60% of their wages for one year and the option to be dismissed after that period. The first strike will occur Thursday and Friday, December 13-14,t he second Monday …

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