Press Review July 2: Power struggles

Unionists prepare for the ‘mother of all fights’ over the privatization of ‘little DEI’, the legal travails of Nicolas Sarkozy sends tremors through Athens; professional bodies demand the repeal of the law creating prisons of ‘maximum despair’; inflexible troika demands regarding foreclosed home auctions are a major problem for the government; and foreign funds are seeking to buy over-indebted Greek companies for big profits.

The Press Project
2 Ιουλίου 2014 | 11:12:43

	ELEFTHEROTYPIA Little DEI, large battle [DEI is short for the Public Power Corporation] Workers go on strike, the government threatens them with mobilisation The strike actions that are beginning at midnight are the ‘mother of all battles’ for the unionists of GENOP DEI (the General Federation of DEI employees) in light of the parliamentary discussion over the draft legislation for the ‘little DEI’, as they appear determined to pull the rope taut to breaking point and have stated that, “in any area that there is energy production, there will be a strike.” At the same time the government appears determined to counter the labour action and has let it be known that it will not hesitate to resort to conscription. On the front that has been created against the privatization of the largest state enterprise in the country, SYRIZA has leapt dynamically, stating that it will not recognize the privatization of DEI. Alexis Tsipras will be in Amyntaio today.
	DIMOKRATIA George, did you hear the news? An earthquake in France with Sarkozy – he is being held for his dealings with Gaddafi which is causing nightmares for Papandreou. Anxiety in Athens as well about what the investigation in Paris will uncover
	AVGI The law which creates ‘white cells’ must be repealed The professional community reacts: we are returning to a pre Enlightenment era The law for the prisons of ‘maximum despair’ creates a space of injustice and must not pass. That was the message of an event organised by SYRIZA yesterday, with the participation of the former Justice Minister A. Roupakiotis and the representative of the Ecologists – Greens, Maria Betinaki, as well as representatives of professional bodies such as the Athens Bar association and human rights groups.
	NAFTEMPORIKI Auctions for seized properties a battleground with troika The troika is insisting on an increase in the rate of auctions of properties of those with outstanding debts to the state and at one third of their objective values [a figure calculated by the state], a development which is cause a huge problem for the Finance Ministry and the government in general due to the social backlash. The last updated memorandum which was issued following the assessment in March includes the commitment on the part of the Greek side for a change in the framework to claim outstanding debts, setting the starting price of seized properties being auctioned at one third of their objective values. The government, from its side, is seeking to increase the starting price relative to the troika’s demands but in any event will be handling a difficult case, with huge social consequences which concern 3,000,000 people with outstanding debts to the state. The pressure to adopt measures to collect revenues comes from the height of the 66.37 billion euros of tax obligations in arrears.
	IMERISIA A game of profiteering as foreign funds seek opportunities for big profits from over-indebted companies A mandatory public offer for the acquisition of 100% of “Maillis” will be made by HIG Luxembourg which owns 72.95% of the business Many foreign funds are seeking over-indebted companies in order to purchase them. They are seeking through successful restructuring to extract profits. The first fund was HIG Luxembourg which acquired a majority of “Maillis”.