Keep Talking Greece

Greek PM Samaras: “Last Painful Cuts for Wages and Pensions – Measures or Drachma”

November 7, 2012 Comments Off on Greek PM Samaras: “Last Painful Cuts for Wages and Pensions – Measures or Drachma”

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 …

Thessaloniki: Anti-Austerity Protesters Caused Damage in Shops, Bank

November 7, 2012 Comments Off on Thessaloniki: Anti-Austerity Protesters Caused Damage in Shops, Bank

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 …

Athens: Molotov Cocktails Outside the Parliament – Live Stream Nov 7/2012

November 7, 2012 5

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 …

Scandal! FinMin Withdraws Provisions After Parliament Staff Went on Strike, While Greek MPs Debate Austerity Package

November 7, 2012 Comments Off on Scandal! FinMin Withdraws Provisions After Parliament Staff Went on Strike, While Greek MPs Debate Austerity Package

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 …

Athens Anti-Austerity Protests – Live Stream, Nov 7/2012

November 7, 2012 15

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 …

Greeks To Work for €2 per Hour & Earn €2.50/h after 10 Years

November 7, 2012 9

To work or not to work? To work in Greece or to migrate abroad? This dilemma is something that thousands of Greece’s youth below 25 years old will have to answer before starting their professional life in the debt-ridden country. But even for those above 25 who get a job …

Greece’s Supreme Court: Wages Cuts for Judges & Prosecutors Against Constitution

November 7, 2012 5

While the Greek Parliament claims the austerity measures are compatible with the Constitution, the country’s Supreme Administrative Court decided they were ‘unconstitutional’ – at least some of them. The pleanary of Supreme Court (Areios Pagos) unanimously ruled that the new cuts in judges’ and prosecutors’ wages were against the Greek Constitution. Under …

“Coup-Like Situation” in Greek Parliament Session over Constitutionality of Austerity Package

November 7, 2012 2

The crucial debate over the austerity measures package started with turmoil and a coup-like situation in the Greek Parliament on Wednesday morning after main opposition party SYRIZA and Independent Greeks challenged the compatibility of the bill with the Greek Constitution. SYRIZA and INDEPGREEKS submitted two motions against the bill saying …

Greek FinMin Exempts from Pension Cuts People with 80% Disability

November 7, 2012 1

In a last minute action and after pressure from coalition partner PASOK, Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras exempted from pension cuts people with 80% disability. MP Koukoulopoulos had threatened to down vote the austerity package bill, should there be no exception for the heavily disabled. Stournaras said that the 30 million …

Parliamentary Committee Aproves Austerity Package

November 7, 2012 6

With votes from Nea Dimokratia and PASOK the austerity package has been approved by the parliamentary committee on Tuesday evening. Junior coalition government partner Democratic Left voted “present”, while SYRIZA, Independent Greeks, Golden Dawn and KKE voted against it. The debate on the austerity package of 13.5 billion euro will …

Greek Electricity Company DEH Warns of Power Cuts in Crete and Rhodes, Nov 6/2012

November 6, 2012 Comments Off on Greek Electricity Company DEH Warns of Power Cuts in Crete and Rhodes, Nov 6/2012

Greek Public Power Company DEH warns of 40-minute power cuts on the islands of Crete and Rhodes due to the strike of the company workers’ union GENOP-DEH. The power cuts are expected to take place after 9 p.m. tonight, November 6th 2012, and will last approximately 40 minutes. GENOP-DEH started …

Health S.O.S – Greece Kills the Chronic-Ill, Alzheimer’s and Kidney Patients

November 6, 2012 4

Health in Greece is sick. As sick as the brains of those who take such decisions and force thousands of people to painful death as they deprive them of life-saving medicine. Call it ‘Third Austerity Package’, call it ‘a country in bankruptcy’, call it however you want, fact is: the …