ΚΑΤΗΙΜΕΡΙΝΙ

The scourge of unemployment in the South
The unemployment rate in the Eurozone reaches a new, record high. 20 million people (from a total of 27 million in the whole of the European Union) are searching for a job without any success. 3.5 million of them are young people under 25. Greece is still the champion of unemployment with 27.6 per cent. Youth unemployment in Greece is over 50%.

See also: September Eurozone unemployment rate up 0.6 per cent 
 

ELEFTHEROTYPIA

Greece, resisting
As a massive protest of disabled citizens was taking place in the center of Athens, the government was appointing new hospital administrators in an “orgy” of cronyism: 70 per cent of them are New Democracy union leaders and former MPs, who failed to get re-elected in the last elections, and the rest are PASOK union leaders and former MPs. More than 1,500 CVs [of applicants for the posts] haven’t even been reviewed. Minister Adonis Georgiadis’s response to “E” [Eleftherotypia]: “This is a common practice, internationally”.

See also: Public health care in Greece: Cutting to stand still)

NAFTEMPORIKI

Athens stock market opens its doors to investors from Russia
Roadshows will be held in Moscow and Montreal so that Greek stocks are presented to investors. The Athens stock market, which is currently the focus of international investment activity, plans to approach new markets like Russia and Canada.

* Yesterday, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov paid an official visit to Athens and announced that Russian funds are interested in investing in the Greek railways and the port of Thessaloniki,  as well as in other possible privatization programs. 

AVGI

Samaras, Venizelos, Stournaras maneuvering and retreating
The government tries to control yesterday’s revolt of New Democracy and PASOK MPs, who are reacting against the proposed law for an additional property tax. Venizelos and Stournaras had a long meeting with them yesterday.

Venizelos later met PM Samaras and afterwards said that if there is any change to the property law, it will be within budgetary targets.

The government however is ready to compromise with the terms of troika, in order for Mr. Thomsen and his friends to come back to Athens on Monday, as it has been planned. 

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON

“Robin Hoods of Electricity” acquitted
Nikos Aslanoglou was tried yesterday on charges of connecting indebted households, which couldn’t pay the electricity hike imposed by troika, back to the electricity network. The court ruled that electricity is a public good and therefore poor people must have access to it. Aslanoglou was acquitted.

See also: Power Grod Robin Hood vindicated in court, determined to carry on