October 20, 2011
Society, Very Mix
The heat is up today in Greece, literally and metaphorically, and protesters started as early as 9 o’clock in the morning to flock towards the Parliament and Syntagma square in Athens downtown. It is estimated that 300,000 people came to downtown Athens yesterday. Many thousands gathered in 20 cities across the …
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October 19, 2011
Society, Very Mix
The Mother of All Strikes, the 48-hour general strike of public and private sector where even shops are closed has started already. For 48 hours the country will be paralysed. Greece’ capital is getting ready for a ‘battle’ that would possibly take place in the city’s centre due to an expected …
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October 16, 2011
Politics
Something is been cooking on the stove of the Greek political kitchen, with ruling party PASOK ministers to raise their voices and criticizing the prime minister, opposition parties to demand early elections and national unity government, Papandreou to seem unsure about the future of the Greek debt, and citizens to crack …
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October 16, 2011
Politics
Now the Greeks got their own ‘Troika” made in Greece. Three top government ministers wrote an open letter of political interference addressing even the Prime Minister, the society and the unions. Anna Diamantopoulou (Education), Andreas Loverdos (Health) and Yannis Ragousis (Infrastructure) call for changes without delays and indirectly blamed the prime …
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October 4, 2011
Economy, Society
Greece’s Prime Minister George Papandreou was explicit when he said “We are not India and we are not going to be India.” The statement released by his office was the answer to Troika demands to lower more the lowest wages in the Greek private sector. Papandreou’s reference to the ‘hunger wages’ …
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September 22, 2011
Economy
The pulse of the society comes form the island of Crete, specifically from the Chania prefecture. According to a public poll, conducted by Cretan Polls, 65.5% of the asked Greeks replied that the government is not authorized to take the austerity measures. 42.1% believe that the economic situation will worsen …
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September 17, 2011
Economy
The developments in Greece are dramatic and the tension has been extremely high in the last hours, after Prime Minister George Papandreou decided to cancelhis visit to USA and this in the middle of the road. He was flying Athens-Washington via London and he was in the British capital when he spoke …
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September 17, 2011
Economy
Greece Prime Minister George Papandreou cancelled his trip to USA, where he was to attend the UN meeting and would also have talks with IMF-Chief Christine Lagarde. Currently Papandreou is in London and from there he was to fly to Washington DC. Greek media claim the cancellation has been decided after …
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September 14, 2011
Economy
“Greece is integral part of the Euro zone” German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy told Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou according to a statement issued by the Greek government after the important conference call between Athens, Berlin and Paris that lasted 25 minutes. The main results of the …
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September 14, 2011
Economy
Europeans send reassuring messages just hours before the critical teleconference between Papandreou, Merkel and Sarkozy and hours after Kassandra’s bombshells heralding Greek default and pushing for exit from the euro zone. EU economic and monetary affairs Commissioner Olli Rehn said on Wednesday morning: “A Greek default or euro exit would carry …
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September 13, 2011
Economy
Feverish meetings were held in the office of Greece’s prime ministers’ office on Tuesday ahead the teleconference of George Papandreou and German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on Wednesday, Sept 14th 2011. The meeting with top economists of the country were made under the specter of an …
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September 11, 2011
Economy
Greece Prime Minister George Papandreou shocked those Greeks who chose to listen to his speech than enjoy the Saturday night with friends. “I will take care that every family has one working member” said Papandreou in his keynote speech at the 76th Thessaloniki International Fair, while thousands of protesters were …
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September 9, 2011
Society
An ugly but not surprised reaction was expecting Greece prime Minister George Papandreou upon his arrival at the Municipality Building of Thessaloniki. With slogans against the anti-social austerity and boos citizens expressed their disapproval. According to some Greek media Papandreou smiled at the protesters… Video A woman protester was detained …
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July 20, 2011
Economy
Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou flies for Brussels today to have a series of meetings, which are covered in full secrecy for fear of any leakage of solution scenarios. “We go to the Summit with specific positions, but without specific goals”, a senior government official said, explaining that all scenarios …
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July 19, 2011
Economy
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has undeniably a new hobby: playing with the nerves of the EU and particularly with the nerves of the Greek prime minister. Of course, in Greece we have a particular expression, it starts with ‘balls’ and ends with ‘breaker’ but it would be too rude to write it down here …
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July 18, 2011
Politics
I wouldn’t post about it but every Greek media, incl. websites and the state TV NET, apparently thought that the question of U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is worth reporting, so I just follow the trend 🙂 The query came when Ms Clinton entered the conference room at the …
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July 17, 2011
Politics
That was an aspect I admit I didn’t take into consideration when I was writing about Hillary Clinton’s visit in Athens and the agenda of the talks. Greece’s prime Minister George Papandreou and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton talked about …decoration! Precicely the talked about the office decoration of Greece’s PM. …
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July 15, 2011
Politics
Prime Minister George Papandreou is proud and optimist. And stuns about the obvious, i.e. the success of the tourism industry on Greek islands like Kos. “I am proud about Greece, Greece that gives a battle everywhere, like here in Kos, where with collective effort, with common effort we promote our culture …
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July 14, 2011
Economy
The stance of Greek government is clear: Greece’s Prime Minister George Papandreou didn’t not talk about ‘selective default’ (επιλεκτική χρεοκοπία) or “teilweiser Zahlungsausfall” (μερική αδυναμία πληρωμών). Papandreou’s interview in Financial Times/Germany set the political scene on fire and created new uncertainty. The interview was done in English, published in German …
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July 14, 2011
Economy
I don’t understand the Greek government. Most likely the Greek government doesn’t understand itself. More than often one has to read contradictory statements and diametrically opposed views that cancel itself by several government ministers and officials that leave a bitter and confused senses on one’s lips. Worst of all it is …
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