Keep Talking Greece

Greek MP’s reject Gambling Bill – ‘Bounty’ Mutiny or ‘Mars’ attack?

April 8, 2011 Comments Off on Greek MP’s reject Gambling Bill – ‘Bounty’ Mutiny or ‘Mars’ attack?

That was a noisy slap in the face of Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou and thus it came from his own governing party members. Papaconstantinou presented the Bill on Gambling at the Greek Parliament on Thursday however he was forced to withdraw it after the strong reaction from PASOK lawmakers. Although …

Dolphins Show suspended in Attica Zoo Park

April 8, 2011 Comments Off on Dolphins Show suspended in Attica Zoo Park

The Dolphins’ Show at the Attica Zoo Park in Spata newa Athens has been suspended after an application for provisional measures submitted by the Ecologists Greens and animal loving citizens. The performance in the pool of the Zoo is temporary suspended and until an Athens court decides about the commercial exploitation of …

CMA-report: Greece tops Debt Risk List 1Q 2011 – Again

April 8, 2011 Comments Off on CMA-report: Greece tops Debt Risk List 1Q 2011 – Again

Greece is considered as the world’s most risky to default and tops again the CMA list of Sovereign Debt Risk Report with a 58% chance of a debt restructuring occurring within five years. The London-based CMA released Global Sovereign Credit Risk Report refers to the first Quarter of 2011. On the Top …

Greece’s CAA threatens with Indefinite Strike after Apr 15

April 8, 2011 Comments Off on Greece’s CAA threatens with Indefinite Strike after Apr 15

No flights after April 15? Greek Civil Aviation Authority threatens with indefinite strike, should the government fail to pay wages in arrears. CAA threats to close airports after 10:oo pm every day, Sundays and holidays starting by April 15, 2011. The escalation comes amid the Eastern Holidays and the begin of …

ECB-Trichet Fails To Categorically Rule Out Greece Restructuring

April 7, 2011 Comments Off on ECB-Trichet Fails To Categorically Rule Out Greece Restructuring

European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet failed to categorically rule out a restructuring of Greek debt down the road. Asked whether he was concerned Greece might not be able to tap the markets again next year and could face a risk of restructuring, Trichet said: “For me, we have a …

J-C Trichet: Extrerminating the loan borrowers

April 7, 2011 Comments Off on J-C Trichet: Extrerminating the loan borrowers

Old chap Jean Claude Trichet, 69, long time French civil servant and President of European Central Bank, increased the interest rates to tame inflation within the eurozone. Interest rates went up by a quarter percentage point to 1.25 %. Holders of loans – credit cards, homes and whatever loans – will …

How much austerity can we bear? Greece 2010 deficit at 10% (Reuters)

April 7, 2011 Comments Off on How much austerity can we bear? Greece 2010 deficit at 10% (Reuters)

Save, Save, Save in a barrel with no bottom! Greece’s debt explodes, revenues are not flowing, new budget deficits sprout every year. The wages and pensions cuts, the V.A.T. and taxes hikes made us poorer by 30-40% in 2010. Now new austerity measures will be added. Then the IMF/EU/ECB- representatives, currently …

Working for the Municipality without contract? No problem in Greece…

April 7, 2011 Comments Off on Working for the Municipality without contract? No problem in Greece…

How weird and twisted can Greece be? In the municipality of Trikala, central Greece, a young guy asked his salary for three months work. However it turned out the guy was working without contract at all! Most probably, he had got a ‘verbal contract’ by a smart municipality official to …

IMF/EU/ECB-Troika’s non-stop pressure on Greek Government

April 7, 2011 Comments Off on IMF/EU/ECB-Troika’s non-stop pressure on Greek Government

New and inevitable measures are on the way and the IMF/EU/ECB control units are adamant to put pressure on the Greek government to speed up with necessary public spending cuts even blackmailing with the 5th tranche of the €110 bailout. According to newspaper Proto Thema, the Troika tough guys …

Greek Media on Strike, Apr 7-10

April 7, 2011 Comments Off on Greek Media on Strike, Apr 7-10

Greek media are on strike from April 7 to April 10. That is from Thursday 6:00 am until Monday 6:00 am there will be no news in television and radio. Sunday newspapers came out today, they will be on sale until April 10 and if you buy them on Sunday …

Athens: Citizens jeer Deputy Prime Minister (videos)

April 6, 2011 Comments Off on Athens: Citizens jeer Deputy Prime Minister (videos)

The “Door-to-Door”, citizens’ movement found its way to Athens noble district Kolonaki where deputy prime minister Theodoros Pangalos has his political office. Armed with a huge teddy pig and megaphones a group of 30-40 senior Athenians started shouting slogans, that…. you don’t want me to translate them in English, do you? …

Messolonghi: Locals jeer and boo Justice Minister (video)

April 6, 2011 Comments Off on Messolonghi: Locals jeer and boo Justice Minister (video)

Greeks are at the verge of nervous breakdown and do not hesitate to verbally attack government officials -preferably ministers – wherever they meet them. This time, angry lawyers had gathered to ‘welcome’ Justice Minister Xaris Kastanidis in the town of Messolonghi in West Greece. Kastanidis climbed the long stairs of the local court …