Press review Nov. 29

Investigation of former defense minister (by prosecutors) to include defense contracts such as the purchase of German-made Leopard tanks

BACKGROUND:

Giannos Papantoniou served as defense minister from 2001 to 2004. Before that, he had served as economy and finance minister from 1994 to 2001, bringing Greece into the euro. Both tenures were under socialist Pasok administrations.

The politician is already being investigated for tax evasion (as part of the investigations into the Lagarde list) and there was speculation that he would be prosecuted over allegations of corruption following the recent conviction of his predecessor in the ministry of defense Akis Tsochatzopoulos on charges of money laundering. Read more here: Yet another former minister being investigated for defense contracts and Swiss bank accounts

She owed 50,000 euros and lived off a pension of 500 euros a month. The court which has issued a string of similar rulings freed her from her debts and saved her from losing her home. 100,000 people have signed consumer group petitions demanding the ban on auctions of foreclosed homes (when that home is a main residency) not be lifted.

Greece is the laggard of the European Union in healthcare. No access to new drugs for the insured. A dramatic reduction in the per capita health expenditures: 28% for the 2009-2011 period alone, while the reductions seen in other ‘problem’ countries do not surpass 10%. Health Minister Georgiadis threatens doctors with a ‘Plan B’ of layoffs. The response is a ‘Plan C’ of continued strikes until the 9th of December of national health system doctors (EOPYY).

The ‘sudden death’ of the National Health System due to large cutbacks in expenditures is described in a report prepared by a reputable Swedish organisation on behalf of the European Commission. Long waiting times for doctor appointments, prescriptions and surgeries; communication with patients and their inclusion in the policy making process; the availability of medical services and patient access to new and effective drugs are the areas affected most negatively.

Already healthcare in Greece is described as ‘Balkan,’ marginally better than that in Albania, Romania and FYROM while in the future ‘even worse developments’ are expected.

The Qatari state-run investment company has notified the Greek Privatization Fund that it is withdrawing its interest in investing in Hellenikon [the site of the former airport in Athens]. Thus ends a courtship that began in 2010. It is not the first failed attempt to attract investments from the emirate. Plans for Qatari involvement in the construction of a power plant in Astakos [a coastal area in the west of mainland Greece] suffered a similar fate.

– Rehn ponts the finger at Greek capitalists, saying troika is not behind demands for medieval employment contracts

The salvation of a 15th century feudal system is the promise held by the now famous job advert posted by a hotel on the island of Aigina, offering to hire housekeeping staff for ‘food and lodging.’ At the same time Olli Rehn, in response to a question by [Euro MP] N. Chounti, made it clear that medieval employment contracts are the doing of domestic capital and not demands made by the troika. Despite the fierce reaction it provoked, the job advert for the Aigina hotel remains up on the ‘Chrisi  Εukairia’ website [ a classified ad website www.xe.gr] while none of the regulatory government bodies including the ministry of labour have shown an interest in the fate of the job ad or indeed of the housekeeping staff. The General Confederation of Hellenic Workers (GSEE) has condemned the hotel’s tactics as unacceptable and very dangrous.