Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras received a cool welcome from the head of the European Commission amid heightening tensions between Athens and other European capitals.
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How the world sees Greece
Friday, March 13, 2015
Greece's Yanis Varoufakis Paris Match Photoshoot: Twitter Reacts
In his first six weeks in office, Yanis Varoufakis, Greece's flamboyant finance minister, has ruffled many feathers across Europe. But a photo spread in ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT blogs.wsj.com |
Fan unrest, warring clubs and financial chaos sink Greek football to greater depths
Greek football badly needs some moments of levity. Last Wednesday night, it had one, a brief instance of laughter in a grim landscape. It happened ...
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Endgame: Power Struggle in Brussels and Berlin over Fate of Greece
European Commission President Juncker wants to keep Greece in the euro zone, no matter what the price. Member states, though, are beginning to lose their patience. Who will ultimately have the final say?
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.spiegel.de |
A savory Greek pastry
If you've had the good fortune of going to a Greek pastry sale, I know I don't have to tell you how wonderful their pastries are! These rich and intricately made treats are always a pleasure to eat! The Greeks have pastry making down pat! There is one ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.examiner.com |
The German government is discussing whether Greece should be cut from Europe like an 'amputated leg'
REUTERS/Fabrizio BenschGreek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, right, with his German counterpart, Wolfgang Schaeuble, at a news conference after talks at the finance ministry in Berlin on February 5. Even without the heat of official negotiations ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT uk.businessinsider.com |
Juncker, Tsipras agree on creation of Greek task force for reforms
Behind closed doors, Juncker and Tsipras agreed that a task force of Greek officials would be created in Athens to have direct contact with the EU Task Force for Greece, which provides technical assistance on structural reforms and absorbing EU funds.
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Convicted serial rapist and murder faces more jail time over burglary
A man who served 20 years in prison for murder, attempted murder and rape, was sentenced to another five years behind bars by a court in Larissa, central Greece, on Friday on robbery charges.
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Most Germans want Greece out of eurozone
More than half of Germans believe debt-stricken Greece should leave the eurozone, according to a poll published on Friday amid a flaring war of words between Athens and Berlin.
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BoG chief warns of uncertainty risks
In a speech on Friday during an event organized by the Bank of Greece, Governor Yannis Stournaras issued a fresh, stark warning about the effects of the prolonged uncertainty on the economy and the danger that the gains from the Greek people’s sacrifices may be lost.
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Law being drafted to abolish C-type prisons, help addicts
Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos is drafting legislation to close down the maximum-security prison at Domokos, central Greece, opened just a few months ago to hold the country’s most dangerous criminals.
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Athens ready to delay some election pledges, says Varoufakis
Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis said on Friday he was confident Athens could reach a deal by April 20 with its international creditors on the reforms it must implement to unblock further aid.
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Bourse benchmark slides over 9 pct in a week
Perpetual warnings about an “accident” and threats of a Greek referendum continued to aggravate the mood in the local economy on Friday, as reflected in the Athens stock market, which lost over 3 percent.
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Finance ministry: We never faced not paying wages, pensions
Greece's Finance ministry says that it never envisaged not paying civil servants' wages or pensiions in order to pay the countrty's creditors. "The Ministry of Finance and the Greek Government never once faced the dilemma of whether to pay wafges and ...
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Varoufakis: agreement with creditors by April 20
Greek Finance minister Yanis Varoufakis told an economics conference in Italy that Greece is and will remain a member of the Eurozone and does not intend to seek support from non-eurozone countries. Speaking on the sidelines of the Ambrosett ...
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How Britain Is Becoming an Isolated Island
LONDON -- Europe is once again divided between East and West -- only this time the fault line runs through the European Union. The eastern members -- most notably Poland and the Baltic states -- are clinging fast to the EU in the face of Russian aggression. At the other geographic and political extreme, the United Kingdom is threatening to walk out on Europe for good. Decisions being taken today on Europe's eastern and western peripheries are likely to shape a new balance of power. It is not difficult to imagine Europe after a British withdrawal: a French-German axis in control, Russia empowered, America bypassing a now-weakened Britain, pro-EU Scotland threatening once again to leave the U.K. and England turning inward as Euroskeptics convince themselves that Britain always is strongest when alone. And, given the effects of U.K. Euroskepticism so far, no crystal ball is needed to foresee the impact on Britain of withdrawal from the EU. As former European Commission President José Manuel Barroso put it in December, "I have never seen in all my years in the European Council... a big country as isolated as Britain." Indeed, the U.K. is now a fringe player in deciding a European growth strategy; marginal to trade debates that it used to lead; and, despite being a big lender, almost irrelevant to the future of Greece. And now, though Britain was a signatory of the 1994 Budapest Memorandum guaranteeing Ukrainian independence, only France and Germany attend any serious negotiations. British ministers want it both ways: "Russia must be countered by even greater European unity," they say. "But, by the way, we may be leaving." Dean Acheson, the U.S. secretary of state who was an architect of NATO and the Marshall Plan, famously noted that Britain in the 20th century lost an empire and never found a new international role. In the 21st century, Britain could lose Europe and find itself once again without a role in the world. The price of exit would be enormous, putting at risk three million jobs, 25,000 companies, annual exports worth £200 billion ($301.4 billion) and £450 billion of inward investment. Moreover, London's unique role in bringing together the full range of financial services that serve the continent -- the city is home to 250 global banks with 160,000 employees and accounts for 80 percent of Europe's hedge funds, 78 percent of its foreign exchange trades, 74 percent of its derivatives and 57 percent of its private equity -- would be jeopardized as well. There is little evidence to support the anti-Europeans' argument that EU regulations hobble British trade outside of Europe; on the contrary, substantial extra-EU trade and investment opportunities would be lost were Britain to leave. And their claim that a non-European Britain could effortlessly retain the EU's benefits while ditching its burdens is simply not credible. Consider the Euroskeptics' favorite examples, Norway and Switzerland. The Norwegians must pay €2 billion ($2.1 billion) a year for access to European markets. Switzerland, like Norway, must take a back seat to the EU Commission when trade and investment decisions are made. The world's largest economy, the United States, needs the North American Free Trade Agreement, and Southeast Asia's rising economies need ASEAN. Likewise, Britain -- which at its peak generated nearly 20 percent of world economic activity but soon will account for no more than 2.5 percent -- is much stronger as a part of Europe. EU membership strengthens the U.K.'s competitiveness by enabling it to negotiate the best deals on trade, tax rules, patents, money laundering, corruption and security with China, India and the rest of the world. But economic arguments alone will likely not be enough to persuade a Britain that, in the late journalist and political columnist Hugo Young's words, is caught between the past it cannot forget and the future it cannot avoid. According to this view, British ambivalence toward Europe may reflect a persistent inability to leave behind the days of imperial grandeur. Nonetheless, economic insecurity -- owing to the rapid pace and, at times, destructiveness of the global economy -- evidently is driving much of the public's nostalgia for British sovereignty. Millions of Britons long for someone or something to protect them from the seemingly alien forces that threaten to steal their livelihoods. This fear has found its voice in the anti-European U.K. Independence Party, which has risen in opinion polls by converting economic discontent into a culture war in which foreigners and immigrants -- and, indeed, Europe as a whole -- are the enemy. Britain, UKIP's leaders and supporters believe, is not the Britain they once knew. Though economic statistics must be part of the argument for Europe, such data will not convince those who fear that Britain is becoming a foreign country. Nor will it be enough to recall the historic benefits of engagement and Britain's distinguished centuries-old role in ensuring that no country ever gained sole mastery of Europe. What needs to be said is this: Britain is at its best when it sees itself as a leader in Europe. Just as Britain once led Europe in fighting fascism, supporting democratic aspirations and charting the continent's response to the global recession of 2008, it should be inside Europe leading from the front ranks. The Britain that has always championed liberty, tolerance and social responsibility should be ready once again to lead a progressive movement, spearheading action to fight climate change, resist protectionism and encourage sustainable growth. It must lead in mobilizing Europe to make the global economy work for people, protecting them from injustice and inequity. Globalization needs a human face, and the face of modern Britain can provide it. Some say that the best way to secure European reform is to threaten to leave. My experience is that Britain does best when it works to bring people together, set the agenda, promote its values and champion change. It is then that Britain can channel its unforgettable past while embracing its unavoidable future. © Project Syndicate
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New Greek government to scrap maximum security prison
ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece's radical left-led government says it will abolish a new maximum security prison built for terrorists and other ...
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New Case of Modern Day Slavery in Southern Greece
A 51-year-old Greek man in Achaea, along with a 42-year-old Romanian national, were forcing foreigners to work with no pay under inhumane conditions, while they would often intimidate them by firing shots in the air or the ground. The shocking case of modern-day slavery was revealed when two Romanian workers were able to leave the poultry unit -where they were being kept- and filed a complaint to Greek Police, requesting their help and protection. Police soon found out that the 51-year-old man had faced charges for similar offenses in 2013. Therefore the Greek police subdivision of organized crime and human trafficking investigated the case. The two Romanian nationals had been persuaded to travel to Greece in order to work under good conditions and adequate salary in the property owned by the 51-year-old man. However, when they arrived in Patras, the were taken to a building with poor sanitation, little to no food and total lack of heating, while they were forced to work every day from morning till night without any rest. Furthermore, it was revealed that the two men, who were arrested by Greek authorities, were forcing foreigners to stay in the farm using psychological and physical violence, even though they were not being paid. When police arrived at the poultry farm facilities, they released seven Romanian nationals, who were victims of human trafficking for labor exploitation. Police also found 1.5 million euros in cash while investigating the place.
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SYRIZA MEP Glezos: I Never Opposed Tsipras’ Govt
His firm belief that any intraparty differences will soon be resolved expressed SYRIZA MEP and iconic figure of the Greek Left Manolis Glezos earlier today after a meeting with the country’s Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, held in the European Parliament in Brussels. As Glezos explained, he was briefed by the Greek Premier on the government’s work, which he underlined he supports. Moreover, he acknowledged there might be different views on certain matters, but these will be resolved sooner or later. “I have never been against the government, neither am I now,” Glezos highlighted, adding that he trusted the “government of the people” and the Prime Minister personally. Asked whether they discussed the German war reparations issue, he said they have not talked about it and that the issue would be discussed in the future. On his behalf, Tsipras stressed they had a fruitful discussion and acknowledged that the country is currently in a “critical period.” Although, he clarified that he remains optimistic, as “we will succeed in living up to the expectations of the Greek society, the popular mandate and our oath to honor these fights and give popular sovereignty, independence and prosperity back to our country.” Finally, the Greek Premier expressed his satisfaction over his earlier meetings with European Parliament President Martin Schulz and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, characterizing the day as a “positive” one.
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OECD: Greeks Not as Lazy as Other Europeans Think
Latest data published by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) regarding the average European citizens’ working hours, reversed the unflattering stereotype of the lazy Greeks, which the country’s ongoing economic crisis has left them with. Contrary to what most Europeans might think, Greeks are actually the ones working the longest hours in the European Union. OECD data showed that employees in Greece put in an average weekly shift of 42 hours, even more than Germans who only manage 35.3 hours. Some experts, though, claim this is due to the nature of the work in Greece, as in many sectors, such as agriculture and commerce, people put in long hours, while this does not necessarily have anything to do with their efficiency. It should be noted that other countries of the European South, also affected by the financial crisis, such as Portugal and Spain, also ranked high (second and third respectively) on the list, leaving France fourth and the European Union average in fifth position with 37.2 working hours per week. On the opposite, regarding another stereotype that wants Greeks retiring early, this seems to have a basis, as the average retirement age in the country is 57.8 years. While this is indeed low compared to other European Union member-states, it is not the lowest and margins are relatively thin, as people in the United Kingdom retire at the age of 58.3.
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Greece Backtracks Over Threat to Send Jihadist Refugees to Germany
Greece has backtracked after its defence minister threatened to 'flood Germany with migrants', including Islamic State jihadists, unless Germany ...
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Syriza-led Greece marks out a new tilt to the East
Either way, the speech by Greece's foreign minister Nikos Kotzias to a gathering of European counterparts in Riga last week certainly provided an ...
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Schaeuble tells Greece: don't blame others for your economic woes
Greece's economic problems are home-made, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told an Austrian newspaper, reiterating Berlin's line that it will not pay war reparations to Athens. They are not in Brussels, Europe or Germany. They are in the fact that Greece lived beyond its means for a long time," he said in an interview with Der Standard released ahead of publication on Saturday. Germany ...
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The Guardian view on Greek A-level: it’s part of our democratic inheritance
The language of the ancients has informed radicals for more than 2,000 years. It must not be squeezed out of the state school curriculumNews that a London comprehensive, the Camden School for Girls, is considering ending the provision of A-level Greek is, you might think, pretty small beer in the scheme of things. Only three students, after all, were hoping to take it from September. But it is a symbolic moment: Camden is the last non-selective state school in England to offer the examination. This blow, were it to fall – there is hope that funding will be raised to save Greek at the school – would help calcify it into a toffs’ subject, outmoded as the empire. As rare in state schools as the Sumatran tiger.Latin is in a shade better nick. State school students who took it at A-level in 2013 numbered 367 (and more than 3,000 took classical civilisation). There are plenty of schools that are enthusiastic about offering classical languages, but funding is squeezed so tight that many can’t – a problem contributing to a general narrowing of the curriculum. The truth is that the ancient languages have few political friends. Michael Gove, when education secretary, gave with one hand, making Latin and Greek part of the EBacc and promoting them as key stage 2 primary languages; but took away with the other by not allowing for the training of enough specialist teachers and cutting funding for A-levels. His successor, Nicky Morgan, is busily promoting Stem (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects above the humanities. Meantime, Labour politicians often regard classical languages as emblematic of the privileged classes (demonic poster boy: the Homer-quoting Boris Johnson). They have forgotten the radical history of thinking with the Greeks: how classicist Karl Marx’s ideas on historical materialism had their roots in his PhD on the ancient atomist Democritus. How George Grote, in the 1820s, forged his campaigning stance on universal suffrage in the crucible of his thinking on ancient Greece. How the suffragettes recited the great speech from Euripides’s Medea, “I would rather die in the battle line three times than give birth once!” Related: Death becomes her: how Juliette Binoche and Ivo van Hove remade Antigone Continue reading...
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Angela Merkel's office denies ‘private feud’ between Greece and Germany
Spokesman for German chancellor says issue of Greece’s economic future is about more than two nations as Syriza government battles to avoid ‘Grexident’German chancellor Angela Merkel’s spokesman has denied a “private feud” has broken out between Berlin and Athens, as the radical Syriza government battles to avoid plunging out of the single currency – a risk euro-watchers have dubbed “Grexident”.As Athens rushes to implement economic reforms and convince its creditors to extend emergency funding, Steffen Seibert, Merkel’s official spokesman, insisted Greece’s economic future should not be reduced to a face off between the two nations. Continue reading...
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Lesvos chamber to host large Turkish travel delegation
The goal is to further expand the number of Turkish tourists choosing the Greek isle
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Finance Ministry warns Greece as Tsipras meets Juncker
Germany's Finance Ministry has warned Greece not to expect "a blank check" from creditors. The harsh words from Berlin come as negotiations ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.dw.de |
Anastasiades: We support reforms in Egypt
"The vision of promoting cooperation between the east and the west began to bear fruit in the form of tripartite cooperation framework that we have established between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus"
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Varoufakis: We could ‘freeze’ some of our campaign promises
... In order to build trust with Greece's partners (institutional creditors), was Yanis' reasoning
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Schauble on “Der Standard”: Greece has been over its fiscal quota for a considerable amount of time
"Eurozone was probably a temptation", said the German Minister of Finance and urged the Greek government to tell the truth to its citizens
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Die Linke co-chair: Greek demand for repayment of forced WWII "loan" correct
Bernd Riexinger also calls on Berlin not to “reject the matter so harshly”
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Germany to Greece: Don't blame us for your economic woes
VIENNA • Greece's economic problems are home-made, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble told an Austrian newspaper, reiterating ...
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Finance Ministry warns Greece as Tsipras meets Juncker
Germany's Finance Ministry has warned Greece not to expect "a blank check" from creditors. The harsh words from Berlin come as negotiations ...
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Germany prepares for Greek exit from the euro as Angela Merkel finally runs out of patience with ...
Finance minister Wolfgang Schäuble said he is resigned to the possibility of a Greek exit from the calamitous euro experiment. In a TV interview on ...
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| READ THE ORIGINAL POST AT www.dailymail.co.uk |
EU's Juncker fires warning to Greece on debt talks
His comments come just days after Dutch Finance Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem said Greece should “stop wasting time” and get serious on reform.
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Progress in Greece bailout talks not satisfactory: EU
Greece's Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras (L) is welcome by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at the European Commission in ...
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Next Up, Podemos in Spain: European Officials Will Have to Change Course
The electoral victory of Syriza in Greece on January 25 marked the first government that was elected with a strong mandate to finally say no to European officials who have been trying to remake Europe since at least 2010. While many thought it was impossible for a small country with just 2 percent of the economic output of the 19-nation eurozone to change the course of Europe's history, it is already happening. On Friday, February 20, European officials backed off from their threats and assaults on the Greek financial system, which had already caused more than $13 billion dollars of deposits to flee the country in January. They agreed, for the first time (and for the first country) since Europe's post-crisis austerity began, that the terms of Greece's financing could be renegotiated. On Monday, March 9, officials are expected to present their proposals to eurozone finance ministers. If these are eventually rejected, Greece is considering calling new elections or a referendum over its deal with lenders. This is a milestone on the way to renewed civilization for the rest of the eurozone. The country that has been the next hardest hit, with 23.7 percent unemployment, is Spain. And after years of mass unemployment and "reforms" that have hacked away at public services, pensions, labor and civil rights - a political rebellion has been born in Spain that promises to bring the next democratic alternative government to power. The new alternative is a political party called Podemos ("we can"), which was born in January 2014 and within four months surprised everyone by winning 8 percent of the vote in the European parliamentary elections. The organizations that had presided over Spain's heretofore two-party system - the PSOE (center-left Socialist Workers' Party) and the PP (right-wing Popular Party) - took less than half of the vote, as compared to 81 percent in the prior (2009) election. By November of last year, Podemos was leading all other parties in the polls. It was truly a seismic political shift - for comparison, imagine a third party in the U.S. pulling ahead of Republicans and Democrats less than a year after its founding. A large and vibrant social movement known as the Indignados, or 15-M, had paved the way for this electoral revolt with massive street demonstrations and local organizing against the abuses of austerity, winning popular support far beyond their numbers. Just as the Occupy movement in the U.S. put inequality on the national political agenda (even Jeb Bush is talking about it) for the first time in decades, 15-M changed the political debate in Spain - only much more so. The man who is now Podemos' Secretary General, Pablo Iglesias, also reached millions of people over the last few years on major television shows, skillfully debating establishment opponents. A series of corruption scandals involving the current government also put the public in the mood for something clean and untainted. Iglesias is a 36-year-old professor of political science who speaks eloquently about the need for Spanish citizens to reclaim their democracy. The ruling PP, which has its roots in the fascist dictatorship that ruled Spain for nearly four decades until 1975, is trying to counter the new challenge by arguing that Spain has returned to growth, and that its policies are working. But this is unlikely to sway many voters. The Spanish economy grew by just 1.4 percent in 2014, and current unemployment of 23.7 percent is not that far from its peak two years ago of 26.3 percent. Youth unemployment is more than twice the overall rate. Unemployment is what matters most; there is substantial evidence that long-term unemployment has numerous social costs besides loss of income, including on mental and physical health, suicide rates, life expectancy, and the well-being of the children of the unemployed. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects unemployment to still be at 18.5 percent in 2019. This is assuming that things go according to plan, and ignoring that IMF projections have tended to be over-optimistic in the past few years. But the most outrageous part of this forecast is that the IMF is also projecting that the Spanish economy in 2019 will be very close to full employment. In other words, the Fund - and by extension the European authorities-- are saying that something like 18 percent unemployment is basically full employment for Spain. European officials are telling Spanish citizens that there is really not much of a future for the country, especially for young people. Podemos promises a better future by rejecting the fiscal austerity that dragged Spain down. Its proposals to lower the retirement age and reduce the work week would also help open up jobs for the unemployed. In a country where there have been hundreds of thousands of evictions, and where - unlike in the United States, people still have to pay their mortgages even after they lose their homes - it also proposes reforms for the housing sector. And Podemos wants to make the European Central Bank - the most important decision maker of the eurozone - accountable to the European Parliament, as well as changing its role to enable it to promote full employment. A 2009 consultation between the IMF and the Spanish government stated that "empirical evidence also suggests that recoveries from economic crises often serve as an opportunity for reform." The kind of "reforms" that they were referring to were those that the current Spanish government has already implemented or tried to implement: cutting pensions, weakening labor's collective bargaining rights, cutting public services. This has been the agenda of the troika --the European Commission, the European Central Bank, and the IMF -- for the past five years in the eurozone. Syriza has put its foot down to demand an end to this torment, and now Podemos has risen even more quickly than Syriza to join them. This is what democracy looks like - even the rigid, unaccountable structure of the eurozone will not be able to stop it from spreading.
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Dijsselbloem critical Greece in WWII reparations claim
According to Minister Jeroen Dijsselbloem (Finance, Euro Group chairman), Greece should not accuse other countries of causing its problems. “There ...
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MarketsS&P keeps axe hanging over Greek rating
Alexis Tspiras, the Greek prime minster swept to power in late January with a promise to renegotiate the country's 2010 bailout, is currently seeking to ...
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French EU Commissioner Moscovici: 'A Grexit Would Be a Catastrophe'
In an interview, EU currency commissioner Pierre Moscovici, 57, discusses efforts in Brussels to ensure that Greece remains in the euro zone and why he believes a Greek exit would be a disaster for Europe.
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The Varoufakis Glam: the Paris Match photo shooting that triggered anger
“No, No, No! That was unacceptable!” A friend entered my apartment in a hurry and loudly arguing against the Varoufakis Photo shooting for French live style magazine Paris Match. A series of nicely set pictures At Home with Varoufakis, showing Greece’s impressive and imposing Finance Minister strumming on the home […]
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Greek bailout: Schäuble breaks ranks over chance of 'Grexit'
Wolfgang Schäuble, Germany’s Finance Minister, has broken ranks with Angela Merkel and said Berlin could no longer rule out a “Grexit”.
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EU executive warns of Grexit 'catastrophe', urges euro solidarity
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Commission warned of "catastrophe" if Greece has to abandon the euro and its chief executive, Jean-Claude Juncker, urged EU governments to show solidarity as Athens struggles to secure more credit.
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Germany Urges Greece to Honor Pledges
Germany wants Greece to stay in the eurozone, but it is now in the hands of the government in Athens to honor its commitment to overhaul its economy, senior German government officials have said.
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Holy Trinity School sixth graders in Westfield study Greek and Roman mythology
Sixth grade students in Mrs. Cullinan's Social Studies class at Holy Trinity Interparochial School in Westfield, dressed up as Greek and Roman gods ...
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Cumberland County Historical Society plans tribute at 'pocket park' to area's Greek heritage
The society is now planning to include a tribute to Carlisle's historic Greek community near the intersection of High and Pitt streets in the park it is ...
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S&P keeps Greece rating on "CreditWatch negative"
S&P said it is keeping its 'B-/B' long- and short-term ratings on Greece. (Reporting by Sudarshan Varadhan in Bengaluru; Editing by Savio D'Souza).
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Greece Misses Budget Revenue Target for Two First Months of 2015
Greece missed its budget revenue target during the first two months of 2015, complicating the talks with its international creditors over securing more bailout funds for its economic recovery, according to the country’s Finance Ministry data. Political uncertainty has weighed on revenue, but less than previously expected, as income reached 7.79 billion euros, which is 963 million euros, or 11% short of target. In the past three years, Athens has managed to achieve its fiscal goals set in accordance with its international creditors in exchange for bailout assistance worth 240 billion euros. This has been achieved, though, by slashing spending -including pensions and salary cuts-, while significantly boosting taxation. It seems that the latest bout of political instability that has shaken Greece has also affected its economic recovery and hurt tax collection, even though the revenue shortfall is similar to the one recorded in January. The deficit also came in a bit higher than expected, as according to the Greek Finance Ministry, the shortfall reached 189 million euros, compared to the target of just 70 million euros. Similarly, the Ministry figures reveal that the primary budget surplus also came below the target of 1.41 billion euros, to 1.24 billion. It should be noted that the state budget only takes into account the operations of the central government and does not include general government accounts, comprised of local government, part of military spending and social welfare spending.
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Prokopis Pavlopoulos Sworn In as the Seventh President of the Hellenic Republic
Newly elected President of the Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos was sworn in earlier today at a ceremony in the country’s Parliament, amid heavy rain. The new Greek President took the traditional oath administered by Archbishop Ieronymos. Pavlopoulos, who is Greece’s former Interior Minister in Costas Karamanlis’ cabinet, is the seventh President of the Hellenic Republic. The Greek President recited the following religious oath before the Parliament: “I swear in the name of the Holy and consubstantial and Indivisible Trinity to safeguard the Constitution and the laws, to care for the faithful observance thereof, to defend the national independence and territorial integrity of the Country, to protect the rights and liberties of the Greeks and to serve the general interest and the progress of the Greek People.” After the ceremony, Pavlopoulos laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in downtown Athens and then went to the Presidential Mansion to assume his new responsibilities, replacing Karolos Papoulias, who headed Greece for 10 years. The former New Democracy Minister was nominated for the Greek Presidency by newly elected Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras last month. Pavlopoulos was elected in his new post on February 18 with 233 positive votes, while he needed to secure over 180 out of 300 votes in order to win the election. He was elected for a five-year term. Pavlopoulos’ nomination was also supported by New Democracy and junior coalition partner Independent Greeks (ANEL). The second candidate, nominated by opposition party “To Potami” and supported by PASOK was Nicos Alivizatos. The Greek Parliament had failed to elect a new President three times in late 2014. The last attempt was made on December 29, 2014, and in line with the Greek Constitution, a general election was held in the country within a month of the failed vote. On January 25, leftist SYRIZA won the snap elections. Who is Prokopis Pavlopoulos? Sixty-four-year-old Pavlopoulos was born in Kalamata and attended the Law School of the University of Athens in 1968. In addition, he studied law at Universite de Paris II on a French Government scholarship and was awarded his postgraduate studies Diplome d’ etudes approfondies (DEA) in 1975 and his doctorate in Public Law in 1977 with honorable mention. From 1978 to 1979 he served his military service in Greece. He was elected a Lecturer at the University of Athens in 1980 and was promoted to Reader in 1981. In 1983, he became Assistant Professor and was later promoted to Associate Professor in 1986. In 1989, he was elected Professor of Administrative Law. In 1974, he was appointed as secretary of Greek President Michail Stasinopoulos. He first served as an Alternate Minister for the Presidency from November 1989 to April 1990 and was also the spokesperson of Xenophon Zolotas’ ecumenical government. From 1990 to 1995 he was the legal adviser of President Konstantinos Karamanlis. He was elected as MP for the New Democracy party in the 1996 parliamentary election. He was appointed as New Democracy’s Press and Information Spokesman by party President Miltiadis Evert on April 1996. In 2000, 2004, 2007, 2009 and 2012, he was nominated and elected as MP representing the Athens First Electoral Constituency. He became New Democracy’s Parliamentary Spokesman in April 2000. Following the March 2004 general elections – won by New Democracy- Pavlopoulos became Interior, Public Administration and Decentralization Minister in the new government of Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis on March 10, 2004. Following the 2007 general elections, won again by New Democracy, the Interior Ministry merged with the Public Order Ministry, of which Pavlopoulos became Minister. Pavlopoulos is a member of New Democracy’s Central Committee and in 2004 was designated as a member of the party’s Political Council, as one of seven MP candidates. He is married to Vlassia Pavlopoulou-Peltsemi and has two daughters and one son.
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Greek Deputy Health Minister: Arrears Settlement to Bring 1.5 Bln Euros in Revenue
The settlement of arrears to the Greek State in 100 installments will bring 1.5 billion euros to state coffers this year, Greek Deputy Health Minister Dimitris Stratoulis said in an interview to the Athens-Macedonian News Agency on Friday. “It is the most improved settlement ever implemented in the country regarding the arrears of small and medium-sized enterprises, as well as the self-employed. This settlement aims at boosting the finances of social security funds,” Stratoulis said. Asked regarding a German newspaper report that the Greek government is looting the coffers of social security funds, Stratoulis underlined: “Our government has not touched the social security reserves and it has pledged to gradually start restoring their looting.” (source: ana-mpa)
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