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

The additional austerity package adopted by the Greek Parliament on Wednesday includes a provision that will force ship owners, long accused of enjoying lavish fiscal privileges, to pony up at least 140 million euros. The provision initially called for a “voluntary” contribution to the state coffers, but Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras withdrew …

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The austerity package that will bring financial disaster to millions of Greek households was apparently not enough for Greece’s lenders to give the green light for the release of the 31 billion euro bailout tranche. Of course, the budget 2013 has to be adopted by the Greek Parliament, as well. …

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Taxis will operate as usual as of  5 o’clock  in the morning on November 9th 2012.

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Officially the gross monthly salary of a Greek Member of the Parliament is 5.700 euro. However unofficially the salary is much higher and thus more than 8,000 euro. Nea Dimocratia MP Fotini Pipili revealed the real income of MPs, reading out of her own payment declaration: 8,217 euro. Basic Salary: …

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Latest data on unemployment released by the Greek Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) are really shocking: Not only because youth unemployment climbed to 58% and the general unemployment reached 25.4%. But because also these data refer to August, one of the summer months that traditionally offer(ed) seasonal jobs to people. In comparison: …

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Workers at Metro, Tram and urban train ISAP/HSAP are on 24-hour strike on Thursday, November 8th 2012. Also taxi owners continue their protest action.  

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With 153 “Yes” votes the austerity package bill was adopted by the Greek Parliament on Wednesday night. The voting brought some casualties for Samaras coalition government as the bill received even less votes than originally thought. MPs from junior coalition partner Democratic Left voted “present”, following the party line except,  2 MPs who …

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Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras said that the austerity bill to be passed by the parliament is “the last austerity package, the last painful cuts for wages and pensions”.  He admitted that cuts in wages and pensions are not fair, but “necessary for the rescue of the country.” He noted …

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Members of trade unions and left-wing parties gathered in downtown of Thessaloniki to protest the austerity bill. However the demonstration body was divided and the situation got out of control. Protesters broke some shop windows and the entrance of a bank, while some threw red paint at the window of a shop. Police did …

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Tension broke out after 6.30 pm outside the Parliament when a group started to throw molotov cocktail bombs at the direction of the Parliament. Police used water cannons and fired tear gas to disperse the rioters.   The mass of protesters, estimated to be 100,000 people, have been cut into …

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Unprecedented! Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras withdrew the provision after the Parliament staff went on strike. Stournaras told the plenary that he withdraw the provision but that he will bring it up again on a later point as the strike threatened to boycott the austerity bill voting procedure. MPs reacted shouting …

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Thousands have rushed outside the Greek Parliament on Wednesday evening to protest the austerity package that is due to be voted at midnight. With Banners and anti-austerity slogans, members of trade unions and political parties from the opposition raise their voice against a bill that will further crack the back …

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