TA NEA

The great horse-trading begins

Next ten days are crucial for the government reshuffle

The bargaining between Samaras and Venizelos has begun which will produce within ten days a package of changes for the reshuffling of the administration with the epicenter being the triangle Finance Ministry – Bank of Greece – European Commissioner. There will however also be changes in the leadership of various important government agencies.

 

 

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS

A ‘package’ of tax reductions on the table with the troika

  1. A reductions in the highest tax rate on households and a flat 20% rate established for businesses.
  2. A reduction in the special solidarity tax from 2015
  3. Gradual elimination of taxes on presumed income
  4. VAT exemptions for professionals with low incomes
  5. A reduction in the luxury tax on automobiles 

 

 

EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON

Ministry of health: promises for the uninsured

Adonis Georgiadis announced that a ministerial decision will be issued to enable the uninsured to access hospitals of the National Health System (ESY). The Federation of Hospital Doctors warns of ‘traps’ in the ministerial decision.

 

 

ELEFTHEROTYPIA

The IMF sees a new loan and a new Memorandum

The IMF is expected today to decide over the terms, preconditions and demands on the Greek economy for the coming years. There is information that the IMF’s report which will potentially be made public in the coming week with highlight the need for a new loan to Greece in order to cover the fiscal gap which arises for 2015. At the same time it notes the commitment of the Greek government to extend current tax measures such as the solidarity tax in order to cover the fiscal gap. The only ‘sweetener’ is the approval for the release of the ‘double’ tranche of 3.5 billion euros.

 

 

AVGI

A plan for defections:

Samaras and Venizelos are seeking a ‘broadening’ of the government's support in parliament with MPs from other parties in order to cover the collapse of their social and electoral support.


Samaras and Venizelos are desperately seeking ‘crutches’ to support the new painful measures demanded by the lenders and which to they have committed, as well as potentially for the election of a new President of the Republic, among MPs which have been elected with parties other than New Democracy and PASOK. According to sources there have already been ‘negotiations’ with MPs of opposition parties.

In return, to begin with, cabinet offices are being offered which will be doled out during the reshuffle which was announced yesterday by the coalition partners and, as stated by Evangelos Venizelos and government spokesperson Simos Kedikoglou will be accompanied by political initiatives. Fertile ground for the moves is provided by the crises which have broken out within DIMAR and the Independent Greeks [over their poor showing in the European elections] while the stances of the ‘independents’ remain unclear.

MP V. Kapernaros withdrew from the Independent Greeks yesterday who, however, stated that he was not willing to cooperate with any other party. Fotis Kouvelis stated that the Presidency of the Republic was ‘not in his plans’ but rumours abound regarding the participation of the opposition MP V. Economou in the government.