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Saturday, 20 April 2024
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-10-18Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] KKE: PASOK to continue ND policyCommunist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga expressed complete opposition to the entire range of policies announced by the government in Parliament, stressing that these would be "business as usual" and continue the conservative policies of New Democracy. She was speaking during the debate on Saturday evening on the government policy statement presented by Prime Minister George Papandreou."You have not said that you will abolish any of ND's laws against the people. You speak only for change and reform. There is a new 'page' but no change in policy. The main direction will be to put pressure on the people. We will contribute so that these policies are not carried out," KKE's leader underlined. Papariga particularly highlighted Papandreou's lack of reference to the talks with European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia regarding Greece's economy, saying that the programme demanded by the Commissioner "will finally demolish the rights gained by workers". "We disagree with the entire productive model announced by the prime minister, not only because it is capitalist but because it leads to a model where the country will be even more dependent and vulnerable to crises," she added. [02] LAOS will act as main oppositionAccusing New Democracy's leadership of giving the present government a 'leg-up' into power, Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) leader George Karatzaferis said that his own right-wing nationalists would attempt to 'take up the slack'. Even though LAOS was not the main opposition, it would strive to act as one "for the good of the country", he told Parliament on Saturday during the debate on the government's policy statements.Comparing Prime Minister George Papandreou to "the ugly duckling that turned into a swan," Karatzaferis accused ND leader and former premier Costas Karamanlis of "being the fairy that transformed him". He promised to mount a tough opposition that "would not be as sweet as that of Karamanlis" and to be a harsh critic of the government, not because it was his party's institutional role but because "the circumstances demand this". Karatzaferis also blasted the policies announced by Papandreou and accused the premier of believing that he would impress by "presenting a Hollywood-style government". "Personally, I believe we are heading toward a thriller," LAOS's leader added, while criticising the premier for devoting minimal time to 'national' issues during his hour-long speech. [03] Tsipras: policy U-turnsPASOK has already started telling people to 'lower the bar' of their expectations, which it had itself created prior to the elections, Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) Parliamentary group leader Alexis Tsipras said during his first-ever address in Parliament. He was speaking on behalf of the left-wing party alliance during Saturday's debate on the policy statement announcement by the government and Prime Minister George Papandreou."Where New Democracy spoke of an 'audit', you speak of a 'record'. The citizens, working people, young people that are being suffocated by the current economic conditions voted you into power in order to change things. Not to continue the same policy as the previous New Democracy government," Tsipras stressed. He cited the negotiations for the sale of the Piraeus container terminal to COSCO as the first symptom of a government U-turn from policies announced prior to the elections. Tsipras also dismissed the economic policy announced by the government as "wholly unsatisfactory" saying it lacked clear positions and answers on what it intended to do. [04] Athens Newspaper HeadlinesAthens' Sunday newspapers at a glanceThe debate on the government's policy statement in Parliament, the process for electing a new president for main opposition New Democracy and the strike by dockworkers opposed to the privatisation of the container terminal at Piraeus port were the main front page items in Sunday's newspapers. ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "PASOK sinking in the Port!" APOGEVMATINI: "Citizens judge the candidate presidents. Nationwide survey by Pulse RC for Apogevmatini". AVGHI: "Vote of confidence from [European Commissioner for monetary affairs Joaquin] Almunia. AVRIANI: "Election of ND's leader through an open vote". ELEFTHERI ORA: "Overcoming [the problems] in the hands of the four [candidates for ND leadership]". ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Landing in Brussels. The first 'crash test' for the government. George Papaconstantinou at ECOFIN tomorrow to seek extension for reducing deficit". EPOCHI: "Plan to trim expectations". ETHNOS: "The draft bill for hiring young people in the private sector. A bulwark against unemployment with new 'stage' and contributions bonus". KATHIMERINI: "Manifesto for a new centre-right". LOGOS: "The five areas of government priorities". NIKI: "Diving into the deep end. Vote of confidence at midnight, then hard work straight away". PARON: "Defeat for Dora [Bakoyannis] at the ballot box". PROTO THEMA: "Hiring at state enterprises also from ASEP [Supreme Council of Civil Personnel Selection]. Everything changing in hiring. RIZOSPASTIS: "All the people's ammunition to the counter-attack on plutocracy". REAL NEWS: "Major reversals in social insurance and labour issues. Everything changing!" TO ARTHRO TIS KYRIAKIS: "Serious accusations about Papandreou's environment. Pamboukis tells 'To Arthro': 'I was not COSCO's lawyer'." TO VIMA: "Great expectations. The problems, the policy, the solutions. PASOK government to get vote of confidence at midnight". VRADYNI: "The pledges forgotten by the government. All the changes to salaries, pensions, taxes". Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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