ELEFTHEROTYPIA

From black, into darkness
After illegally shutting down state TV ERT, the government has also illegally reclaimed its HQ
Police raided the buildings during the night. SYRIZA filed for a censure vote. The left wing and intellectuals unanimously condemned the incident.
Just a few days before the 40th Athens Polytechnic uprising anniversary* police raided ERT HQ in order to restore “legality”.

*The Athens Polytechnic uprising was a massive anti-junta demonstration that began on November 14, 1973 and escalated to an open revolt which ended in bloodshed in the early morning of November 17 after a tank crashed through the gates of the Polytechnic, where the most demonstrators were gathered. The historic pirate radio broadcast from the “illegally” occupied building of the Polytechnic is a symbol of resistance and democracy. 

See also:
Live coverage of the last developments
Photo reportage: The news program in front of riot police
Photo gallery and videos from the police operation and the demonstrations
Analysis: What lurks beneath the closure of ERT

ΤΑ ΝΕΑ

SYRIZA’S censure motion: Gaffe or Bluff?

SYRIZA: Confrontation now or never
According to SYRIZA prominent members the motion for censure was the only obvious choice for the opposition after the police raid in ERT HQ. However, party members think that Mr. Tsipras’s motive was not only to seek confrontation with the government, but to silence those in his party who oppose him.

See also at yesterday’s press review, ETHNOS. 

Government: They’re handing us a carte blanche
The government perceives the censure vote as a gift given by SYRIZA, since it will force New Democracy and PASOK MPs to align with government’s policies and choices, especially in this difficult period that it is in painful negotiations with the country’s creditors.  

DIMOKRATIA

Now comes the hard part for the Papantoniou family
Former financial minister, Yannos Papantoniou and his wife spend more than they declare to IRS, according to Financial and Economic Crime Unit report. “There must be prosecution” the district attorney says.

*Yannos Papantoniou served as Finance and Economics Minister from 1994 to 2001, Economics minister from 2001 to 2004 and Defense Minister from 2003 to 2004. He was one of the most prominent ministers of the Costas Simitis government and the Economics minister when Greece entered the Eurozone. His wife’s name appeared on the infamous Lagarde List which identified around 2,000 Greeks with deposits at a Geneva branch of HSBC. Now the couple faces misdemeanor charges for tax evasion of 3 million euros. Mr. Papantoniou’s wife Stavroula Kourakou will also face felony charges for 1.33 million euros found in Swiss HSBC bank account belonging to her. 

KATHIMERINI

Troika pushes the Greek government to reinstate foreclosures for primary residences.
Troika insists that banks must be available to auction primary residences in order to cover NPLs (non-performing loans). Troika representatives met yesterday with Minister of Development Costis Hatjidakis and made their demand clear.   

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON

Paul Thomsen: Don’t fool the public saying you won’t take new measures
IMF’s representative in troika, annoyed by the PM and ministers’ public statements that there will not be more measures, said to Finance Minister, Yannis Stournaras: “Don’t fool (the public into thinking) that you will not take new measures, because at the end of this negotiation you will be asked to do so”.