The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-12-14

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From: The Hellenic Radio (ERA) <www.ert.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] Party Leaders Agreed that They Argue

The crucial EU Summit Meeting agenda , Greece's stance and developments in the economy were the focus of talks during the Prime-minister's successive meetings on Tuesday with political party leaders, aimed at broader possible consent on issues preoccupying the country . From political leaders statements, we gather, however, that objections to the economic policy do not allow room for consensus. ND leader A. Samaras was the first to meet with Prime-minister, followed by the GCP gen. sec. A. Papariga and LAOS president G. Karatzaferis. SYRIZA Parliamentary Group president Alexis Tsipras refused to meet with the Prime-minister, stressing that Mr. Papandreou could not remember consensus when a parliament debate is being held on a multi draft-bill providing for reforms on labour rights. Consensus is an issue that concerns us all, said the government spokesman G. Petalotis.

ND leader A. Samaras during the over one hour meeting with the prime-minister refused to consent with the government's economic policy saying that it leads to injustices and hopeless sacrifices.

"Mr. Papandreou does not ask for economic policy consensus but he asks for approval and complicity to decisions already taken by the government", said A. Samaras and added "the government's economic policy leads to despair and dissolution of society".

The Prime-minister agreed with ND position for revision of the Constitution in the next Parliament while Mr. Samaras agreed with the government's stand for extension of loan repayment period without imposition of additional measures.

The GCP gen. sec. Aleca Papariga said she was briefed on the agenda of the forthcoming EU Summit meeting and developments in the financial crisis in Europe. She said they did no discuss the multi draft-bill at all and repeated she objected to everything.

LAOS president G. Karatzaferis said he had a long conversation with the Prime-minister on both economic and national issues. He added that his party showed sobriety and voted in favour of memorandum article #1 to ensure payment of pensions and salaries but now with cuts in pensions and salaries he did not agree. He specifically said: "I was the flag-bearer of consent but I can not become the undertaker of society".

SYRIZA president did not meet with the Prime-minister saying he refused to waste time in pointless shakehands. He said: "We will be in the Parliament to give a battle against the bill providing for social and labour humiliation.

Government spokesman G. Petalotis described as particularly useful and positive the Prime-minister's meetings with political party leaders, stressing that the government has been giving continuous battles for 14 months and was determined to deal with long standing structural weaknesses.

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8, ÁNA-ÌPA

News item: 52357

[02] Multi D/B Crucial Voting on Tuesday

The multi draft-bill on labour rights and DEKO is expected to be passed by the Parliament Plenum on Tuesday evening. A debate on the draft-bill starts at 17:00 while it was approved in principle and on the articles yesterday. The main opposition ND party voted against the draft-bill in principal, blaming the government on its content as well as the urgent procedure that followed. It, however, voted in favour of ten articles including ones regarding reforms in DEKO companies, abolition of source of income for the purchase of first residence and rise in VAT. The GCP voted against the draft-bill and clarified that it would request roll call vote in principal and on the articles. Reports say that LAOS -that objected to the draft-bill- is considering to ask for a roll call vote in principal. Finally SYRIZA voted against the draft-bill describing it as miserable and anti-labour . Opposition political parties have already made clear that they would vote against the draft-bill in principal. Only the ND party said it would vote in favour of cuts in DEKO salaries but against reforms in labour rights.

Strong Reactions by Trade Unions & Workers

Employees in private and public sectors have responded with strikes and work stoppages to multi draft-bill providing for reforms in labour rights and cuts in DEKO salaries.

GSEE-ADEDY staged work stoppage from 12:00-15:00 on Tuesday and demonstration at Syntagma square.

On Wednesday public and private sector employees are staging a general 24-hour strike in protest against multi draft-bill.

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8- ÁNA-ÌPA

News item: 52360

[03] ERT Digital Signal from Aegina

ERT second digital package including television channels ÍÅÔ, ÅÔ-1, ÅÔ-3 and Parliament as well as radio channels ÍÅÔ 105,8, Deftero, Trito, ERASpor and Kosmos starts broadcast from the island of Aegina Transmission Center today Tuesday, December, 14, 2010. Transmission is from channel 52 (frequencies 722 MHz). Coordination of receivers is required.

On the grounds of standing legislation, analog transmission of ERT programs 23 (ÅÔ-1), 28 (ÅÔ-3) and 51 (ÍÅÔ) are suspended upon opening of digital transmission.

Digital transmission of cine +, spor+, prisma+, and RIKSat from Aegina Transmission Center will continue from channel 48 without any change.

Source: ÍÅÔ

News item: 52367

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