Press Review April 24: Say surplus three times fast

Eurostat verifies the Greek primary budgets surplus; yet despite government and troika optimism the surplus appears to be the result of ‘creative accounting’; the EC defers debt discussions until the autumn; SYRIZA withdraws another minority candidate over links with Turkish nationalists; and New Democracy and PASOK are accused of hypocrisy over minority candidates.

The Press Project
24 Απριλίου 2014 | 10:37:10

	TA NEA The Greek odyssey to reach the primary budget surplus The 3.4 billion euros primary surplus announced by Eurostat is a ‘super-weapon’ for the Government. The road is opening for the debt to be managed. In 2009 -2013: Taxes: +24.7 billion euros Salaries / pensions: -4.5 billion euros Antonis Samaras: The surplus proves the major turnaround of the Greek economy thanks to the sacrifices of the Greeks. ‘Now everything is for the debt and development’ is the message being sent by the government after the primary budget surplus was verified at 3.4 billion euros by Eurostat – a surplus which was achieved thanks to huge sacrifices by the Greek people during the 4-year odyssey of the Memorandum.
	ELEFTHEROTYPIA Accounting tricks to keep the ‘success story’ alive A deficit of 15.8 billion euros according to Eurostat A surplus of 3.4 billion euros according to the troika And yet, Eurostat did not make any reference to the achievement of a primary budget surplus by Greece in 2013 with its announcement yesterday. On the contrary it remained faithful to its model of calculating the fiscal parameters of member states of the EU, and it announced that Greece presented a deficit of the General Government on the order of 15.8 billion euros, with a debt of 318.7 billion euros. However the troika and the government ‘read’ in the announcement that the primary surplus reached 3.4 billion euros. Based on creative accounting agreed upon together with the Memoranda, they are celebrating the achievement of a primary surplus which opens the way for a discussion which will begin in the coming weeks over the management of the debt in order for it to become sustainable.
	DIMOKRATIA The latest con More tough times ahead despite the highly optimistic tone: the Commission is now deferring the discussion over the debt to the autumn.
	ETHNOS The Thrace syndrome hits SYRIZA again A gaffe with the Turkish nationalist Meetings and photographs with Devlet Bahceli of the Grey Wolves [the Turkish ultra-nationalist organisation] ‘burnt’ the SYRIZA local elections candidate Ahmed Kurt in Eastern Macedonia. He has withdrawn his candidacy [the second minority candidate SYRIZA has been forced to withdraw].
	AVGI Shameless nationalist exploitation over Thrace The improper relationships between New Democracy / PASOK and minority extremists In the wake of SYRIZA’s withdrawal of the candidacy of Sabiha Suleiman, ND and PASOK have taken to making divisive statements targeting SYRIZA without regard for the consequences for the sensitive region of Thrace. The participation of candidates from minorities free from nationalist dependencies in SYRIZA’s electoral lists is an issue of egalitarianism and democracy. The regional candidate Ahmed Kurt withdrew his candidacy over his handshake with Bahceli. PASOK and New Democracy are engaged in deal-making with ‘influences’ from the Turkish consulate. The current PASOK MP Ahmed Chatziosman propagandizes in favour of the nationalist party DEP (the former party of Sadiq). A New Democracy candidate for the position of local councillor has the blessing of extremist minority groups.