KATHIMERINI (Sunday Edition)

Samaras: I don’t deal with those who move in the shadows


Interview with ‘Kathimerini’ – Spring decision for debt, no new measures.

“Karamanlis and I met and chatted as good friends”
“Taxpayers were excessively taxed in 2013”
“There is disagreement between the IMF and Europe over the debt”
“Primary residencies of the vulnerable will continue to be protected”
“Triple elections would suit me but the exit from the crisis takes priority”
“There won’t be problems with the legislation before Parliament”

The Prime Minister Antonis Samaras replied in a particularly harsh tone to questions posed by “Kathimerini” regarding scenarios that would see him form a new coalition government from the current parliament. “I think they are, and I say this clearly, politically perverted scenarios,” he stressed adding, “I don’t deal with those who move in the shadows.”

Mr Samaras who has ruled out triple elections in May [i.e. general elections as well as the already scheduled local and European Parliament elections] attacked Syriza which he described as “the epitome of demagoguery and irresponsibility,” and also revealed that he met recently with former PM Kostas Karamanlis and that they “chatted like good friends.”

The prime minister further added that the decision for a further reduction to Greece’s debt would have to be taken by Greece’s lenders in the spring and implied that there would not be a new Memorandum, while insinuating that there were internal divisions within the troika. Finally Mr Samaras recognized that in 2013 Greek citizens were over-taxed and sent the message that the poor and vulnerable would be protected from any lifting of the ban on auctions of foreclosed homes.

NAFTEMPORIKI

Businesses sell assets in search of liquidity

Divestment and cost cutting preferred

Empty coffers, bank inabilities to provide capital and high debt obligations are forcing Greek public companies – even the ‘elite’ among them – to put on the international ‘bazar’ whatever assets can be sold in their search for liquidity. As Naftemporiki’s analysis of the economic trends over 9 months shows, Greek public companies are unable to invest, with the result being that investments are down 60% in comparison with last year, while priority is being given to divestment and cost-cutting. At the same time whatever liquidity is secured from sales of subsidiaries or other assets is being used to shore up companies’ bottom lines. 

 

ELEFTHEROTYPIA

 

Between a Rock and a Hard Place. Home Foreclosures: Troika reps unyielding

Cold, hard and unyielding in their position for the total lifting of the ban on auctions of foreclosed homes, the troika representatives refused every proposal for a 6-12 month transitional period in successive, fruitless negotiations. Now its the turn of the ‘big troika’ of Lagarde, Olli Rehn and Draghi to decide whether to give the order for a solution to be found, or for the ‘little troika’ to depart Athens with no deal. The multiple disagreements between the government and the lenders make for an uncertain landscape while there are also international funds in the frame who are waiting to ‘purchase’ outstanding loans for which there is tangible collateral – i.e. real estate.

ETHNOS (Sunday Edition)

Alexis Tsipras Interview

“We call on MPs to open the door to their consciences.”

A new call from the Syriza president and his assurance that for the first time conservative voices in europe will be forced to decide whether to change policies or commit suicide.

“Syriza will become government with a large majority and conservative europe will find themselves, for the first time, forced to decide whether they will truly change their policies and behaviour or if they will commit political suicide.” the Syriza leader said in an interview this weekend with “Ethnos on Sunday” newspaper. “Europe will change politics and it will be broad daylight” he adds.

Tsipras said that the elections in May for the European Parliament would be a milestone acting as a catalyst for electoral change, with 2014 being “year zero for the people and the country.”

“The five year term of impoverishment and decline will end… A President of the Republic will be elected by a parliament in which Syriza will have a large majority,” he said.

Tsipras reiterated Syriza’s plan for an exit from the crisis saying it would happen with “a large part of the debt being written off like in Germany in 1953, with a moratorium and on the condition of growth for the payment of the remainder.”

He said a clash was to be expected during “very tough negotiations” with the Greek and European elite “when their desire is to take us back 100 years.”

 

 

 

REAL NEWS (Sunday)

Danger of Explosion – The troika adds fuel to the fire

Troika representatives make extreme and outrageous demands over foreclosed home auctions, mass layoffs and the budget deficit over the next three years.

A third Memorandum is on the horizon according to analysts assessing the intense pressure Thomsen and his crew are putting on the Greek side.

The protraction over the outstanding issues is destabilizing the government and creating the danger that civil unrest may break out.