Keep Talking Greece

Police operation against oldest Athens squat – 14 detentions

January 15, 2013 Comments Off on Police operation against oldest Athens squat – 14 detentions

Strong police forces entered the squat in Kypseli district of Athens at 1 p.m. on Tuesday and detained the eight women and the six men who were inside the building at the time of police intervention. The deployment on riot police squads was aiming to prevent expressions of solidarity by other anti-authoritarian …

Greek FinMin – Tax raising campaing “for the pocket of the other”

January 15, 2013 8

Greek Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras admitted in an interview that also he was not exemption to the old Greek tradition: to buy services and goods without asking and/or receiving a receipt. A practice that helped vendors and other professionals to steal from the state the Value Added Tax and declare much lower income …

Patras: citizens demand arrest of MPs voting in favor of “prior actions” draft law

January 14, 2013 5

While Greek MPs are voting in the Parliament a draft law containing a set of “prior actions”, two residents of Patras, Peloponnese, went to local police station demanding the arrest of those MPs who will vote in favor. According to the two men, supreme court ruling has declared “giving over national sovereignty” as …

Only fourishing business in Greece: Trade firewood

January 14, 2013 3

Finally a good news! Trading firewood is a business that experiences a rapid growth in recession-hit Greece. Tax increases in heating oil and natural gas have led to sharp decrease but to sharp increase of firewood. According to data released from Athens Chamber of Commerce, the number of enterprises trading …

Greek retailers hope for revenues through Winter Sales, 15.Jan-28.Feb/2013

January 14, 2013 Comments Off on Greek retailers hope for revenues through Winter Sales, 15.Jan-28.Feb/2013

Greek retailers put their hopes for revenues on the winter sales that start tomorrow, January 15th 2013. According to daily TA NEA, the winter sales are going to start with generous reductions of more than 50% especially in clothes and shoes. In fact many small shops launched special offers already right after Christmas …

“Don’t pay without receipt” triggers confusion among consumers as ESEE threatens with “theft” charges

January 14, 2013 6

The usual confusion as … usual! While the Finance Ministry allows consumers to go without paying if the merchant does not issue a receipt, the Trade Association threatens to raise charges on ‘theft’ for those consumers who follow the ministry’s orders. Greek finance ministry put into effect on 12. January 2013 …

German FinMin urges SYRIZA Tsipras to endorse the austerity program

January 14, 2013 2

The meeting between German Finance Minister Wolfgang and Greek opposition leader Alexis Tsipras from left-wing SYRIZA concluded in Berlin shortly after 2 o clock noon on Monday. As expected the two politicians found no common ground and disagreed. According to Greek private Mega TV, Tsipras presented his party’s alternative program to …

UPD: Police arrests policeman who followed “Independent Greeks” leader

January 14, 2013 5

Greek police arrested a policeman who was ‘following’ Panos Kammenos, leader of nationalist party “Independent Greeks”. According to media reports, Kammenos sought the aid of police after his personal security men realized a man on a motorcycle was following his car when he left his home to go to the …

Assailants fired shots with AK47 at Nea Dimocratia HQ – Bullet in Samaras’ office

January 14, 2013 Comments Off on Assailants fired shots with AK47 at Nea Dimocratia HQ – Bullet in Samaras’ office

Unknown assailants fired shots with a Kalashnikov rifle at the headquarters of government party Nea Dimocratia. The assault was so bold that even “a bullet was found in the office of ND leader and Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras”, so the police and the media. The attack took place at 3 …

Arson attack against gov’t spokesman’s brother sparks ND-SYRIZA dispute

January 13, 2013 Comments Off on Arson attack against gov’t spokesman’s brother sparks ND-SYRIZA dispute

Who will be the next target of arsonists? this must be the question puzzling officers of Greek police after barrage of self-made gas bombs exploding outside the homes of journalists, government party officers and banks ATMs. The latest target was the brother of government spokesman Simon Kedikoglou. Short before midnight on Saturday, unknown …

Greek PPC electricity hikes: 8.6%-9.2% for households, 10-12% for commercial use

January 13, 2013 7

Greek Public Power Corporation raised electricity bills 8.6%-9.2% for private households and 10%-12% for commercial, industrial and agricultural use. The hikes will be in effect retroactives from 1. January 2013, while two additional increases will occur within the next six months. The hikes refer to energy cost, fee and CO2 emission rights …

Greek FinMin: purchases over €500 only via credit card, check or bank transfer

January 11, 2013 12

Greek Finance Ministry plans to put an end to cash payments. Purchases worth more than 500 euro will be not possible with cash money anymore. Finance minister Yiannis Stournaras told the Parliament on Thursday that he examines that “the expansion of electronic transactions with credit cards and other electronic payment methods …