Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-12-22

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] PM announces intention to revise Constitution

[02] Parliament approves 2006 budget

[03] PASOK leader says new budget 'questionable'

[01] PM announces intention to revise Constitution

Karamanlis made the announcement while addressing Parliament as it concluded its debate over the 2006 budget.

Regarding the budget, Karamanlis said that the priorities are reforming the educational sector, ensuring complete transparency for the political system and protecting and upgrading the environment.

"For all these reasons, we are setting in motion a broad public debate and we are beginning procedures so that the new legislature will be able to revise the Constitution," he said.

"The time has come for major and responsible change, which the country needs and citizens demand," he explained.

Responding to main opposition PASOK President George Papandreou's remarks, Karamanlis accused him of distorting the truth, glossing over his party's past and taking for granted that he will win the next elections.

"There are three things I cannot forbid you from doing: First, to voice inaccuracies; second, to remember your bad selves; and third - and most important - to dream," Karamanlis said.

The prime minister called on MPs to approve the state budget "in order to shake off the burdens of the past and to secure a just future; as a mandate and commitment to change and reform that will improve citizens' lives; and as a clear message to the social alliance of change and reform."

[02] Parliament approves 2006 budget

Following are the main targets in the government's budget for 2006, the first figure in each category refers to 2006, and the second to 2005.

General government deficit: 2.6% of GDP vs 4.3%, General government debt: 104.8% of GDP vs 107.9%, GDP growth: 3.8% vs 3.6%, Growth in private consumption: 3.2% vs 3.2%, Investment growth: 5.4% vs 1.0%, Exports (goods and services) growth: 6.8% vs 5.0%, Imports growth: 4.9% vs 0.7%, Growth in public consumption: 1.2% vs 2.5%, Inflation (private consumption deflator): 3.2% vs 3.5%, Unemployment: 9.8% vs 10.4%

[03] PASOK leader says new budget 'questionable'

He was speaking during Parliament's debate on the country's 2006 budget. He added that the "only thing that the Greek citizen can wait for is an even greater undermining of social cohesion".

Papandreou said that the 2006 budget "lacks credibility as was the case with the 2005 budget. The last one was rejected by the European Union".

Referring to what he claimed was the government's intention to proceed to a Constitutional revision, Papandreou said that the government was "looking for ways of escape from the present situations." He accused the government of trying to avoid, by this move, discussion on the new budget. "It is not the Constitution to blame but your government," Papandreou said.

Papandreou said that the Public Utilities and Corporations (DEKO) "were profitable" under PASOK rule "and are now loss-making" under ND governance. He said the government created "hundreds of new 'committees' in the public sector and appointed hundreds of thousands of ND supporters."

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) Secretary General Aleka Papariga launched a stinging attack against the two major parties, accusing them of both having "the same anti-working class policy."

She said that "only through a political clash with the prevailing policy, there can be gains for the working people and a stop be put on the downhill slide."

Commenting on the outcome of the European Union Summit in Brussels last Friday and the EU funding for Greece, she stressed that "with these funds the myth was cultivated that even though the EU has difficulties and still does injustices, it is better than nothing because outside of it there is a storm."

The KKE leader said that the funds from the 3rd Community Support Framework (CSF) "facilitate the taking of profits at the expense of the working people, in favour of EU and Greek capital."

As for the 4th CSF, Papariga said "they went and will go to infrastructure works for big capital, facilitating the liberation of the markets."

Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) President Alekos Alavanos criticised the government and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis personally, saying that they are responsible for weakening the social state.

He also criticised main opposition PASOK, saying that it does not differ significantly from the ruling party.

In criticising Alogoskoufis, Alavanos accused the finance minister of serving the interests of the Federation of Greek Industries (SEB).

As for the EU funds Greece managed to secure at the last EU summit for the 2007-2013 period - a total of â¬20.1 billion - Alavanos described it as a "mediocre result."

Finally, he described the state budget as being heavy-handed in allocations for weapons procurement, leaving no room for social or developmental spending; dismantling the social state; exploiting public property and shrinking the public sector under 'humiliating' terms and conditions.

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