NAFTEMPORIKI
 
A plan to revise the Memorandum forecasts

The government is looking to renegotiate the targets for large primary surpluses set by the Memorandum with the new Medium Term programme for 2014-18 in order to restrict the fiscal gap that will be created and the danger that new measures will be required.

Specifically the Finance Ministry is reducing the memorandum target regarding the primary surplus for 2015 by 911 million euros and for 2016 by 1.927 million euros. The targets are more than met in 2017 and 2018 but it is a question as to whether the troika will accept the Greek request. When asked whether further austerity measures will be implemented in order to cover the fiscal gap, Deputy Finance Minister Christos Staikouras referred to new negotiations with the troika this coming September, during which the fiscal capabilities will be assessed and if a fiscal gap for the coming two year period is predicted, ways to cover it will be discussed. 

KONTRA
 
SYRIZA Ahead by 10-15 points

SYRIZA’s victory is expected to be of landslide proportions in the European elections. According to experts analyzing the latest polls, SYRIZA’s victory over New Democracy may be by a margin as wide as 10 points and even reach 15 with whatever such a development entails.

Along those lines came a recent statement from Christoforos Venardaki of VPRC on ET3 who stressed that SYRIZA may find itself up to 15 points ahead of New Democracy, while he also expressed certainty that Golden Dawn will poll above 105 in the elections.

Pollsters and elections experts talk of the rise of a silent anti-establishment current which, at the moment, avoids answering pollsters’ questions. 

DIMOKRATIA

Electric-shock for second homes

Electricity bills to rise (based on memorandum commitments) for low levels of consumption. Those who use country homes as their primary residence to be exempt from the price rises.

 

 

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON

The improper relationship between Tsiaras and Pappas

No video is required to prove the relationship that existed between former Deputy Foreign Minister Kostas Tsiaras and Golden Dawn lieutenant Christos Pappas. Their public discussions in parliament is enough. The politeness, the compliments and the convergence of opinions cannot be concealed. As a rule it was Mr Tsiaras who would respond on behalf of the Foreign Ministry to questions submitted by Pappas. 

KATHIMERINI

Greece a champion in raising taxes on businesses

Greece is among 13 countries worldwide that raised tax rates on businesses this year according to research by KPMG. The tax rate was revised upwards from 20% to 26% and remains among the highest compared to competing countries. Indirect taxes are also high with the result being that Greece is in 5th place worldwide.