August 2, 2012
Economy
Greece’s lenders, the Troika, apparently cast doubts on revenue targets The Greek government forecasts to collect from fighting tax evasion. The case refers to Greek government forecasts about revenues from combating tax evasion and for the years 2013-2016. Greek Finance Ministry predicted to collect 3.8 billion euro. The Troika, however, “sees” only 1.9 …
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July 31, 2012
Economy, Editor, Politics, Uncategorized
There is something odd about the talks between Greece’s government partners Antonis Samaras (ND), Evangelos Venizelos (PASOK) and Fotis Kouvelis (Democratic Left). The three leaders, their parties’ committees and negotiation teams from several ministries have been apparently talking about the 11-billion-euro package of Troika-measures under the guidelines of Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras …
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July 30, 2012
Economy, Politics
Local thermometers have gone red. Not only in terms of temperatures (40-41°C today) but also in political-economical. Greece’s coalition government is in the middle of a race with an award of 33 billion euro waving at the end of the road. The country’s lender’s are standing at the finish with …
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July 28, 2012
Economy, Society
The atmosphere during the meeting between private sector union umbrella GSEE and Troika representatives on Friday was chilly. In fact, it must have been icy-cold despite the high temperatures in Greece’s capital Athens when the issues of dramatically high unemployment, prolonged recession, cancellation of collective bargains and the miserable conditions in the …
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July 24, 2012
Economy
This is a good question posed by Ambrose Evans-Pritchard on British daily Telegraph.UK “Who will hold the Troika on Account for asphyxiating Greece?” Probably nobody… “Germany has clearly taken the decision to expel Greece from the euro, whatever the new Greek government does. Vice-Chancellor Philipp Roesler says the “horror” of Greek exit has …
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July 24, 2012
Editor
Somebody must have had a promiscuous sense of humour to send the Greece’s lenders, the so-called “Troika”, to Athens today. On the 38th Anniversary of the “Restoration of Democracy” that marks the end of the military dictatorship in Greece, on 24th July 1974. Who arranged this arrival on such day? Christine Lagarde? Jose …
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July 23, 2012
Economy, Politics
Main opposition leader and Syriza chief Alexis Tsipras called on Greek government to end any discussion with the representatives of the EC-ECB-IMF troika, and propose an EU Summit meeting to focus on a different strategy for Greece. Addressing the Syriza parliamentary group on Monday, Tsipras voiced his party’s determination …
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July 22, 2012
Economy, Politics
The managements of Greek state-run enterprises seem to be very forgetful. So forgetful, that they “forgot” to implement government decisions concerning wages cuts for thousands of employees at state-run enterprises (DEKO) and other state bodies and organizations. Even worst: the government forgot to control if laws and decisions are been …
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July 18, 2012
Economy
Forget what I told you about the Emergency Property Tax 2012. Greek Finance Ministry issued a statement on Wednesday afternoon saying that the Emergency Property Tax for 2012 will be tagged -again – in the Electricity Bills. “Due to current law and technical difficulties as well as time limitations, it is …
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July 17, 2012
Economy
Greece needs to find ways and save – or cut- expenditure of 11.5 billion euro for the years 2013-2014. In continuous meetings between Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras with the political leadership of the ministries, the majority of the ministers were not able to find where exactly they could make the cuts. …
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July 17, 2012
Economy
While the Greek government struggles to find ways – read: austeirty measures cuts – and save 11.5 billion euro for the next two years, the Troika representatives seem to take their time. While it was expected that Greece’s lenders representative would start their visit to Athens on July 24th 2012, …
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July 14, 2012
Economy, Society
Greek government and the Troika are apparently at odds over the emergency property tax. Samaras’ government wants the tax to be disconnected from the electricity bill and not to punish with power supply cuts those who do not pay it. The Troika insists on linking the tax with electricity cuts out of fear …
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July 9, 2012
Politics
The confidence to Greek government did not last long. Twelve hours after Samaras’ coalition government won the confidence vote at the parliament, one of its ministers put down his pen and resigned. Nikos Nikolopoulos, deputy Minister for Labour, Social Security & Welfare submitted his resignation to prime minister Antonis Samaras. The …
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May 21, 2012
Economy
This is the second time that it is being claimed, IMF’s representative for Greece, Poul Thomsen, is going to be replaced. Economic news portal Capital.gr wrote in fact that he has been already replaced. By deputy mission chief for Greece, Mark Flanagan. An IMR-technocrat who worked out the Memorandum of Understanding for Ireland. …
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May 17, 2012
Economy
The representatives of Greece’s lenders from the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank, the so-called “Troika” will not visit Athens and meet the Greek interim government. Instead, they will wait until a new government has been formed after the June-17 elections, IMF spokesman David Hawley said in Washington. “We …
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May 7, 2012
Politics
Officials from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund said Sunday that Greece must adhere strictly to its austerity program–that includes taking new measures in June–signaling that there was little room for a new Greek government to renegotiate the country’s bailout terms. Instead, more than 60% of the popular …
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April 29, 2012
Economy
I am afraid this Troika, the lenders of Greece are always one step behind. Whether it is about the wages in Greece, or false predictions about recession, for example. Now the Troika seems to have not heard anything about the elections of May 6th or the blurred political balances and the …
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February 10, 2012
Society
The Panhellenic Federation of Police Officers wrote an open letter to the Troika representatives and warn them that it will ask to issue warrants against them. In the letter addressed to Poul Thomsen (IMF), Klaus Mazouch (ECB) and Servas Derose*(EU), Greek police unionists send the message that they will ask …
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February 9, 2012
Economy, Politics
Under the heavy pressure from Brussels and Berlin, Greek coalition coalition government partners agreed on the full austerity package, including cuts worth €300 million. The agreement was reached after intense negotiations with PM Lucas Papademos that took place over the phone, To Vima and Proto Thema reported. Shortly after 4 pm, the …
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February 9, 2012
Economy, Politics
That was the longest day and night in Greece, yesterday. PM Lucas Papademos met the three political leaders of the coalition government for 7 hours. Short after the leaders the PM’s office, the Troika cars were entering the Maximos Mansion. Papademos-Troika meeting ended at 6 o’ clock in the morning. At 8 …
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