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Monday, 23 December 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-01-08Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Gov't eyes clamp down on profiteeringPrime Minister Costas Karamanlis chaired an Inner Cabinet meeting on Tuesday that focused on international economic developments and their possible repercussions on the Greek economy, a meeting that was also attended by Development Minister Christos Folias, who warned afterwards that the government was determined to clamp down on profiteering in domestic markets.Speaking to reporters afterwards, Economy and Finance Minister George Alogoskoufis stressed that the Greek economy, in the year ahead, has heightened developmental prospects, which he attributed, to a great degree, to reforms carried out in preceding years, "which will ensure the country's growth and a further reduction of unemployment". Alogoskoufis noted that the government has taken specific initiatives to boost the financially weaker classes, along with the country's further growth, and to increase employment. Asked whether spiralling prices pose a threat to the economy, Alogoskoufis noted that repercussions of skyrocketing oil prices and hikes in food prices and raw materials world-wide were discussed during the Inner Cabinet meeting, adding that, "to date, repercussions have been manageable, but the government and the relevant mechanisms are in constant vigilance so as to confront any re-evaluations". Folias, in turn, noted that the "imported inflation, due to oil, grains and milk, obviously influences prices". Folias warned that "anyone who believes that, from here on, they can engage in profiteering, they would do well to revise their views, because we are determined to clamp down on them". Caption: ANA-MPA file photo of the Greek prime minister's official office, the Maximos Mansion in Athens. [02] Interview:Council of State pres.A Constitutional Court, by its own nature, will have an effect not only on the Council of State (supreme administrative court) but also on the rest of the Courts of Justice in the country, Council of State President Geprge Panagiotopoulos said in an exlcusive interview with ANA-MPA. He pointed out that all courts have the right to rule on the constitutionality of a specific legal provision adding, that two factors will determine whether the establishment of a Constitutional Court is necessary: namely, its jurisdiction and its composition. The fact that there is a backlog of cases pending trial is due to the large number of cases that are brought to court, said Panagiotopoulos, stressing that roughly 2,000-2,500 cases are outstanding each year and therefore, over a period of ten years their number will eventually rise to approximately 25,000. On December 31, 2006 the pending cases in the Council of State were roughly 30,000, he noted. Limiting the number of cases that are brought before the Council of State after being tried in lower administrative courts -- which makes the process more expensive -- could be the solution to the problem, he pointed out. Concerning allegations on Areios Paghos (Greek supreme court) sessions that were held via teleconference, Panagiotopoulos commented that a quorum is necessary for the Council of State to rule on a case, otherwise it must adjourn for another date. He maintained that there is no interdependence between the political leadership and supreme courts, despite the fact that the Supreme Court heads are appointed by the Inner Cabinet. The president of the Council of State also stressed that the separation of powers is guaranteed by the Constitution, preventing any form of interference in exercising their duties."Regardless of whether judges are approached for the purpose of issuing a favorable ruling, they should always do their duty and this is the case as far as the Council of State is concerned", he stressed [03] Alavanos meets port employeesSYRIZA leader meets with port employeesCoalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) parliamentary group leader and Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN) party leader Alekos Alavanos on Tuesday met with the Federation of Port Employees of Greece (OMYLE), after which he accused the government of "selling off everything". Alavanos said that although the country's ports were profitable enterprises, "the government is proceeding to their sale, to their sell-out", but "not in order to relieve the state budget". The SYRIZA leader further criticised the government on its proposed reforms in the social security system. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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