October 26, 2012
Politics, Society
The unprecedented security measures in Thessaloniki angered the believers who wanted to attend the festive mass at the church of Agios Dimitrios, the patron saint of the the city. Greek police had isolated the area around the church up to 150 meters away from the building. A ‘dead zone’. Entrance was permitted only with special …
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October 25, 2012
Economy, Politics
Samaras’ junior coalition government partner Democratic Left executive committee decided on Thursday evening to reject the labour rights ‘reforms’ demanded by the Troika. In a statement after the meeting DemLeft said: “Excecutive committee of DemLeft unanimously insist on its decisions to reject the Troika-proposals for the labour rights. Addressing our …
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October 24, 2012
Economy, Society
Samaras’ government is in dramatic negotiations with the Troika over the so-called “Labour Reforms” after two of the three coalition government partners rejected the Troika demands for a total overthrow of Labour Rights. A disagreement that threatens the cohesion among the government partners. According to latest information from state broadcaster NET TV, …
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October 9, 2012
Economy, Politics, Society
Hardly had Angela Merkel set foot in Athens and the blood started to boil among the thousands of protesters gathered in the city’s downtown. Despite the draconian security measures and the massive deployment of riot police, angry Greeks moved to downtown to protest the visit of German Chancellor. 2:45 pm …
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October 9, 2012
Politics
Unbelievable! German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in Athens wearing a lime green jacket. A jacket she also was wearing when she watched the football match between Germany and Greece. In June 22, 2012 during the EURO tournament. When broke Greeks went home defeated 4-2 by the German team. Euphoric: German Chancellor …
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October 9, 2012
Politics
I just came up with this post idea, when I saw the picture of Angela Merkel and Antonis Samaras while the Greek Prime minister was visiting Berlin in August 2012. The question that immediately popped up in my mind, while watching the deep looking into each others’ eyes was: Can Samaras …
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October 9, 2012
Editor, Politics
What does the Greek government expect from German Chancellor on visit today? What is Angela Merkel willing to give? Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’s highest expectation is to have the negative climate against Greece changed. And thus before the crucial EU Summit on October 18th 2012. First of all, Samaras expects …
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October 5, 2012
Politics
Greek prime minister Antonis Samaras hit dramatic tunes about the state finances and the social situation of the country. Speaking to German daily Handelsblatt, Samaras stressed the necessity of the 31-billion-euro bailout tranche saying that Greece has money until the end of November. “Then the cash box is empty,” Samaras said. “Antonis Samaras told …
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September 27, 2012
Economy
After three hours of consultations, the three political leaders of Greece coalition government managed to reach a basic agreement on the 11-billion-euro cuts-package and the additional 3-billion-euro tax tsunami. Short after the meeting, Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras told the media, that the heads of the three coalition government parties had reached a “basic …
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September 27, 2012
Society
They were determined. The people with disabilities who gathered on Thursday morning to protest allowances, pensions and wages cuts, the deterioration of the health care system and the collapse of social welfare. Parents pushing their children’s wheelchairs, elderly accompanying kids with Down’s syndrome, blinds with their walking stacks, deaf with banners… 1,500 …
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September 27, 2012
Economy
Greek coalition government partners Antonis Samaras, Evangelos Venizelos and Fotis Kouvelis meet on Thursday morning to finalize the austerity package of 11.5+2 billion euro for the years 2013-2014. While the three leaders have agreed on main cuts there are some measures that meet the objection of Venizelos (PASOK) and Kouvelis (Democratic Left), …
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September 22, 2012
Economy
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras dismissed claims about the imposition of a 150-EUR poll tax to property owners with income from leasing real estates. To a reporter’s question whether there would be a new tax on properties, Samaras stressed “There is no such government intention. Those circulating such scenarios should be …
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September 21, 2012
Society
What is the purpose of adding oil to the fire when there is already tension anyway? Head of Muslim Association in Greece labeled Prime Minister Antonis Samaras as Greece’s “biggest racist.” Naim El-Ghandour was speaking at a press conference in Athens, where writers, journalists and academics criticized the provocative film The Innocence …
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September 15, 2012
Economy
Greeks got the feeling, that the climate is changing, it’s turning from negative-rejecting to positive- supportive. Some hints in this direction came from here and there yesterday, claim the Greek media. The country’s international lenders hint Greece may get the desired two-years extension. That apparently the total message from the Eurogroup meeting in Nicosia on …
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September 13, 2012
Economy
Things look bad for the Greek private sector, in fact for all working Greeks, if we believe the leakages to the Greek press by several government sources concerning the progress of the11.5-billion-euro package of austerity measures. What we have been hearing since yesterday watching the news on TV is this: …
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September 10, 2012
Economy
Greek citizens and the counry’s lenders – the Troika – seem to agree: both are not pleased displeased with the 11.5-billion-euro austerity package Samaras government prepared. However Greeks and Troikans agree for diametrically opposed reasons. Greeks want less austerity measures, the Troikans want more. The Troika’s point of view seems clear: …
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August 31, 2012
Economy, Society
End of August, end of summer vacations. Greece gets back to normal with mass-protests on the making, important political and economic meetings, and the package of 11.5 billion euro apparently to have been sealed by the coalition government partners. Yesterday, Thursday, leakages to the press informed – even though unofficially- the Greeks about …
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August 29, 2012
Economy
Greece’s coalition government partners hold meeting after meeting while seeking consensus in a series of several expenditure cuts, as dictated by the Troika. Target is to present the country’s lenders with a thorough austerity package, worth 11. billion euro for the years 2013-2014. The meeting among PM Samaras, PASOK-leader Venizelos …
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August 24, 2012
Economy, Editor
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is holding a face-to-face meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The Greek PM is seeking to extent Greece’s time to meet bailout-imposed fiscal targets. Samaras needs two more years. For the economy to breath, as he said recently. then the recession has hit the debt-ridden …
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August 23, 2012
Economy
It came as expected: The dinner hosted by Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras to honour head of Euro group Jean-Claude Juncker. An austerity dinner in a country short before it goes bust. A real low-calories, spartan dinner with boiled vegetables and fish. A light dinner at the Acropolis Museum with view at …
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