AVGI

Time for Germany's debts

The opportunity to officially address and at a top level the issue of the occupation loan and German reparations towards our country for the crimes committed by the Nazis during WWII is presented by the visit of the German President Joachim Gauck. It is time that the Samaras – Venizelos government  ends its outrageous foot dragging and put the issue of German ‘debt’ on the table despite having linked the issue with the ‘favours’ extended by Chancellor Merkel over the implementation of the memorandum programme.


Manolis Glezos stressed yesterday to Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos that the time has arrived for political initiatives and today will accompany Alexis Tsipras to a meeting with the German president who, on the one hand has stated that he will not ‘open’ the issue but appears willing to start the discussion. 

TA NEA

The troika demands mass layoffs by law

A steadfast ‘no’ from the government, Samaras and Venizelos present a united front


The troika continues to put ever greater – and ever more politically difficult – demands on the table. However it faces a united front from Samaras – Venizelos, especially regarding the mass layoffs ‘by law’.

IMERISIA

A hard stance from the PM’s office

Irritation in the government over the troika’s demands

  • The results of the Bank of Greece’s stress tests to be released today

  • Dangerous games are being played over the capital requirements of the banks

The needs of the banks are determined by the ECB and the Bank of Greece, Evangelos Venizelos made a point of stressing. It is not possible for the troika to function administratively and not politically. Today the stress test results will be announced.

 

  • The OECD ‘toolbox’

  • An insistence over mass layoffs and changes to the dairy and pharmaceutical markets

The lenders are once again raising the issue of mass layoffs irrespective of the veto issued by the minister. The are requesting further changes to the dairy and pharmaceutical markets as they are not satisfied with the proposals of the two ministers.

 

  • They are refusing tax reductions

  • The are re-raising the issue of property taxes and high fines

They are refusing to accept the tax exemption on homes owned for over 25 years as well as the proposed move by the Finance Ministry to reduce the high penalty fees which have provoked outrage and bitter protests.

KATHIMERINI

The European Commission threatens to put an end to measures to reduce the cost of electricity

The European Commission is threatening to put an end to measures approved by the general assembly of the Public Power Corporation (PPC) to reduce the cost of electricity for energy intensive industries. The EC is currently examining the measures to establish whether they amount to state support. The issue was put to the Greek side during Environment Minister Giannis Maniatis’s visit to Brussels two days ago.   

ETHNOS

A cry of outrage over the ghost of November 17

A whirlwind of intense reactions was provoked by, ‘I was born on the 17th of November’ the book by [convicted terrorist] Dimitris Koufodinas. The clash between SYRIZA and New Democracy was also intense over the foreword written by [SYRIZA MP] N. Giannopoulos.
[read more about the book here]