English – Αγγλικά

19-летний британский турист погиб в драке на острове Закинфос

                     19-летний британский турист был убит на рассвете в среду в районе Лагана на острофе Закинфос, после драки с таксистами. По информации полиции, задержаны 21-летний водитель такси, совершивший преступление и еще один из его коллег.

Cabinet meeting to focus on public enterprises, labor, tax and development

A Cabinet meeting today will focus mainly on the restructure of state owned enterprises, labor relations, taxation and the development law.

For the state owned enterprises, the Cabinet is expected to discuss cuts in wages and expenses, which have to be done by March in order to ensure the disbursement of the four tranche of the EU-IMF loan.

The members of the government will also discuss wages in the private sector, in connection with the need to increase productivity.

On labor relations, the Cabinet will be informed on the results of the negotiations between Labor minister Louka Katseli and the EU-IMF inspectors.

2011 budget voted in Parliament Economic Committee

Finance Minister said that the 2011 budget voted in by the Parliamentary Economic Committee was one of special circumstances.  

Discussions on the budget will commence on Saturday 18 December and end with a final voting on Wednesday 22 December at midnight

Papakonstantinou spoke of a tight and developmental budget and termed the proposals tabled by the Opposition as unrealistic.

Finally, he added that we hope that Greece will not get to see another year than the one that lies ahead, and of this year in which we nearly found ourselves unable to pay pensions or salaries.

Oli Rehn to visit Athens today

The European Commissioner of Economic Affairs, Oli Rehn, will visit Athens today to have meetings with the Greek political leadership.

The Commissioner will meet with the minister of Finances, Giorgos Papakonstantinou, the Prime Minister Giorgos Papandreou and the main opposition New Democracy party leader, Antonis Samaras.

Rehn will also address the Parliament's Committee of Economic Affairs.

In the meantime, in statements made yesterday, Rehn said that the extension of the debt repayment period for Greece will be approved soon.

Papandreou meets with Nobel awarded economist Rubini

Prime minister Giorgos Papandreou met yesterday with Nobel prize winning economist Nuriel Rubini. Rubini praised the government for its efforts to face the crisis.

Despite his personal reservations Rubini noted that the measures taken were necessary, although he believes that Greece must restructure its debt.

Responding to these statements, government spokesperson Giorgos Petalotis said that Greece has averted default through the efforts of the government and the people.

PASOK leads poll but difference with ND drops slightly

The difference between ruling PASOK and main opposition New Democracy parties has dropped slightly to 4,1%, according to a poll conducted by the MRB firm.

PASOK got the "green light" from 26,7% of the participants, while New Democracy follows with 22,6%. Third comes the Communist Party of Greece with 8,4%, followed by the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) and the Coalition of the Left (SYRIZA).

According to the poll, at least six parties will enter the Parliament in the next national elections as the Ecologist Greens have raised their rates.

The two new parties Democratic Alliance and the Democratic Left gathered a low percentage.

On the political leaders, Giorgos Papandreou is considered the most suitable for Prime Minister. Judged on personal sympathy, Papandreou has a 30,8% approval rate and a 57,4% of disapproval. Main opposition leader Samaras is liked by 25,8%, while 60,1% of the respondents expressed a negative opinion.

Four terror suspects to testify today

Four of the six persons arrested last weekend on terrorism charges will face the public inquisitor today. Two have already made formal depositions and been remanded into custody.

Meanwhile new data is emerging from telephone conversations and have led police to search an apartment in Thessaloniki. The search there led to the recovery of a computer, but no weapons or explosives.

Garbage collectors suspend strike

The strike by garbage collectors of the Athens municipality has been suspended and garbage collection crews will be waging a struggle to clean the capital's streets and squares of thousands of tons of garbage that have been accumulated.

Meanwhile after meeting with incomung regional director for Attica Yannis Sgouros, interior minitsre Yannis Ragousis noted that collecting the garbage is the job of the mayor of Athens until the end of the year.

Former ASPIS insurance company CEO arrested for money laundering and fraud

The CEO of "Aspis Pronoia" insurance company, Pavlos Psomiadis, was arrested yesterday, for his involvement in a money laundering case.

Psomiadis is also charged for fraud.

His actions led to money loss for those insured with the company and for its employees.

Strauss-Kahn addresses Greek Parliament, stresses the need to boost growth, competitiveness, gives green light to debt extension

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, during his address at the Greek Parliament yesterday, said that the Greek fiscal program is on the right course but also stressed the need to reestablish economic growth and to boost competitiveness by linking wages with productivity.

He warned that the targets that need to be met in 2011 are not easy and appeared positive on the possibility of an extension of the debt repayment period.
Strauss-Kahn responded to questions made by Mps, some of which reflected criticism on the practices of the IMF.

Earlier yesterday, in a press conference after his meeting with the Prime Minister, Giorgos Papandreou, Dominique Strauss-Kahn spoke of the need for consensus, on a social and political level and noted that the result of the recent local elections proved that the people recognized the need for tough measures.

He also set development, the restructure of the public sector and eliminating tax evasion as the primary targets.
Responding to those who protested against his visit in Athens, Strauss-Kahn noted that the IMF is here to help Greece and it didn't come uninvited and wished the country to get back on track very soon.