Keep Talking Greece

Student Challenges Politicians: How Does Life Looks Like for Greeks Working for 450 Euro per Month? (video)

November 20, 2012 33

“The student who stunned politicians” is the title of the video, with Vasilis Themistoklis, 27, speaking to politicians about how the real life looks like when young labourers work for 450 euro per month. How the real horror the Greek politicians created looks like when one has to live within. …

Tourism Ministry Takes Down Controversial Greece-Promotion Flash Mob Video

November 20, 2012 13

The video “Greece Welcomes You” to promote Greece became the target of sharp criticism from the very first moment it was uploaded on YouTube. The 4-minute long footage was showing a flash mob happening dancing a bit of syrtaki and a lot of breakdance. Among the audience, the passersby so …

Mammoth €44 Billion Bailout Tranche for Greece in Two Tranches

November 20, 2012 Comments Off on Mammoth €44 Billion Bailout Tranche for Greece in Two Tranches

The mammoth tranche of 44 billion euro will be disbursed to Greece in two tranches, Greek media reported on Tuesday, hours before the start of crucial Eurogroup meeting. The first tranche of 34 billion euro will be released on December 5th 2012, while the rest 10 billion euro will flow …

Ferry on Fire Docks at Patras Port

November 20, 2012 6

Fire broke out on ferry boat “Crete II” while it was sailing 4-5 nautical miles away from the port of Patras, Peloponnese. The fire broke out in the garage deck short before midnight and burned down some 30 trucks. While the automatic fire extinguishing system of the ship managed to prohibit the …

Greek Gov’t Rejects Troika’s Latest Demand: Dismissal of 20,000 Civil Servants Until 2014

November 19, 2012 50

Just hours before the crucial Eurogroup meeting tomorrow Tuesday, Greece’s lenders – the notorious Troika -sent a fax to the government posing a new demand: the dismissal of 20,000-22,000 civil servants until 2014. According to news portal in.gr, the government rejected the Troika demand, with finance ministry sources saying “we …

Greek Gov’t Rules Spending Controls & Wages-Pension Cuts Bypassing the Parliament

November 19, 2012 Comments Off on Greek Gov’t Rules Spending Controls & Wages-Pension Cuts Bypassing the Parliament

With two legislative actions and fourteen ministerial decisions the Greek government caused serious damage to two state powers of a sovereign state: the Legislative and the Executive. Bypassing the Parliament, the government drafted legislative actions that give the Finance Minister super powers. Inspectors at ministries, local governments and public utilities enterprises will monitor …

Residents to Pay Increased Fees & 3‰ Property Fee if Municipalities Fail to Meet Austerity Targets

November 19, 2012 2

Residents will be called to fill up the holes if municipalities fail to meet austerity budget targets. According to governmental legislative act clause of ‘divergence’ from fiscal targets, residents in municipalities with debts will dig deep in their pockets paying hikes in fees including those for properties. Municipalities will be under …

Greek commerce sector report paints bleak picture

November 19, 2012 1

Employment in the Greek commerce sector shrank by over 12 percent in the past year and there is going to be no improvement in 2013, a report by the sector΄s main association claims. In a preview of its annual report, set to be released Monday, the National Confederation of Greek …

Protests and Occupations as Municipality Workers & Civil Servants Oppose “Labour Reserve”

November 19, 2012 Comments Off on Protests and Occupations as Municipality Workers & Civil Servants Oppose “Labour Reserve”

With slogans and banners against the loan agreement, municipality workers and civil servants took to the streets on Monday, protesting the measure of ‘labour reserve’ that will forcefully sent home workers with only 75% of their salary and thus as of next month. Municipality workers launched nationwide mobilizations protesting the labour …

Polytechnio: Celebrating Students’ Uprising 1973-2012

November 17, 2012 Comments Off on Polytechnio: Celebrating Students’ Uprising 1973-2012

There is quite some dispute nowadays in Greece whether about the celebrations to commemorate the 39th Anniversary of Students’ Uprising against the military dictatorship at Polytechnic University in 1973. In a society suffering from harsh austerity measures, it is obvious that there is criticism about the so-called “Polytechnio Generation”: students …

US Embassy Issues Travel Safety Advise Over Racist Attacks in Greece

November 16, 2012 9

US Embassy in Athens updated its safety and security information on Friday raising the awareness of US citizens of African, Asian, Hispanic or Middle Eastern descent. The American diplomatic mission explained the update with ‘unprovoked harassment and violent attacks against person perceived as foreign migrants.’ US Embassy Excerpt: “Security Message …

Lagarde on Greece: ΄Not Over Till the Fat Lady Sings΄

November 16, 2012 Comments Off on Lagarde on Greece: ΄Not Over Till the Fat Lady Sings΄

International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde said on Friday it is important that a crucial Eurogroup meeting next week on Greece forges a deal that will put the insolvent country΄s economy on sustainable path — though differences remain over how to achieve this. She also said European policymakers must …