Papademos Sworn In, New Coalition Government Faces Old Problems


ATHENS – Former European Central Bank Vice-President Lucas Papademos has been sworn in as the country’s interim Prime Minister, charged with keeping international aid coming and holding together a coalition government that includes some bitter rivals, and far Right-Wing members for the first time since the fall of the military junta in 1974.
Papademos, 64, an MIT-educated economist who worked for the Federal Reserve Bank in Boston and was a National Bank of Greece Governor will have to push through a Parliament now under the complete control of the former ruling PASOK Socialists and the major opposition Conservative New Democracy party, along with two ministers from the far Rightist LAOS party, the terms of a second bailout of $157 billion from international lenders that comes with more of the pay cuts, tax hikes, slashed pensions and layoffs that helped bring down former leader George Papandreou. Greece is surviving on a series of $152 billion in rescue loans from a first bailout but the accompanying austerity measures have created a deep recession of 18.4 percent unemployment, and the shuttering of more than 100,000 businesses and failed to reduce Greece’s staggering $460 billion debt and 8.9 percent deficit, although the Troika of the European Union-International Monetary Fund-ECB has gotten the agreement of investors to write down 50 percent of most of Greece’s obligations. He also must get the release of a delayed $11 billion loan installment needed to keep paying workers and pensioners.
Papademos, who does not belong to a political party, could soon face the same kind of protests, riots and strikes that bedeviled Papandreou, although some analysts think Greeks may gave him a break to see how he handles the crisis that critics said is insurmountable and will still lead to bankruptcy or a default. But he could have another obstacle: Greece’s fractured politics, in trying to keep Socialists and Conservatives from each other’s throats and to work together and find a consensus on issues that created an economic war in the country.
The new government, agreed upon by Papandreou and New Democracy party leader Antonis Samaras, will serve until elections, tentatively set for February, giving Papademos little time to work on the problems. He will face a confidence vote in Parliament but that is overwhelmingly controlled now by the coalition as the Communists, Leftist SYRIZA party and independents have only 46 seats in the 300-member body. A bigger challenge is implementing more austerity and trying to begin the privatization of state-run entities and sale or lease of state-owned properties to raise as much as $70 billion to put a dent in debt created by generations of packing state payrolls with political hires, corruption, tax evasion and an uncompetitive economy.
“I think he will get that kind of brief honeymoon,” Thanos Dokos, head of the Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy said. ”People were desperate enough and now (may) give a new face, a new person, whos not a professional politician some leeway to try to do his job in the proper way. And, of course, at some point they will be expecting some results, which I’m afraid will not be forthcoming in the short term.”
The cabinet keeps in place Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos, who imposed waves of tax hikes on Greeks, including on the poor, and an emergency tax hike put into electric bills under the threat of having power turned off, wages garnished and property seized unless it’s paid. Venizelos remains a Deputy Prime Minister along with PASOK’s Theodoros Pangalos, who has little to do since Venizelos emerged as the face of the austerity program. Foreign Minister Stavros Lambrinidis, a former Washington lawyer who was also a skilled diplomat, has been replaced by Stavros Dimas of New Democracy, a former European Fisheries Commissioner, ousting one of PASOK’s most capable members from a key post. ND also got the valued spot of Defense Minister, which went to former Athens Mayor Dimitris Avramopoulos. LAOS’ Makis Voridis, a flamboyant speaker, got Infrastructure.
Not represented were the Communists and Leftist SYRIZA parties, who refused to participate. Communist leader Aleka Papariga urged Greeks to mobilize against the coalition, although she offered no alternative ideas. She said that “specific immediate issues exist, such as the abolition of taxes, immediate problems that are related to taxes, the solidarity tax, with the increased VAT, with the school committees of the schools that have no money, with the student dormitories that are closing soon, there is no money in the universities, nowhere, to fund them,” the party’s standard dogma.
THE NEW CABINET
Prime Minister
Lucas Papademos

Deputy Prime Ministers

Theodoros Pangalos
Evangelos Venizelos
Finance
Minister: Evangelos Venizelos
Alternate: Filippos Sachinidis
Alternate: Pantelis Economou
Deputy: Yiannis Mourmouras
Citizens’ Protection
Minister: Christos Papoutsis
Deputy: Manolis Othonas

Culture and Tourism

Minister: Pavlos Geroulanos
Deputy: Giorgos Nikitiadis
Deputy: Petros Alivizatos
Decentralisation & E-Governance
Minister: Dimitris Reppas
Deputy: Dinos Rovlias
Deputy: Pantelis Tzortzakis
National Defense
Minister: Dimitris Avramopoulos
Alternate: Yiannis Ragousis
Alternate: Georgios Georgiou
Deputy: Kostas Spiliopoulos
Development, Competitiveness & Shipping
Minister: Michalis Chrysochoidis
Alternate: Sokratis Xynidis
Deputy: Adonis Georgiadis
Deputy: Thanos Moraitis
Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs
Minister: Anna Diamantopoulou
Alternate: Constantinos Arvanitopoulos
Deputy: Evi Christofilopoulou
Environment, Energy & Climate Change
Minister: Giorgos Papaconstantinou
Alternate: Nikos Sifounakis
Deputy: Yiannis Maniatis
Foreign
Minister: Stavros Dimas
Alternate: Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou
Deputy: Dimitris Dollis
Interior
Minister: Tasos Giannitsis
Alternate: Fofi Gennimata
Deputy: Paris Koukoulopoulos
Health and Social Solidarity
Minister: Andreas Loverdos
Deputy: Dimitris Vartzopoulos
Deputy: Markos Bolaris
Deputy: Michalis Timosidis

Infrastructure, Transport and Networks

Minister: Makis Voridis
Deputy: Yiannis Magriotis

Justice, Transparency and Human Rights

Minister: Miltiadis Papaioannou
Deputy: Giorgos Petalotis

Labor and Social Insurance

Minister: Giorgos Koutroumanis
Deputy: Yiannis Koutsoukos
Agricultural Development and Food
Minister: Costas Skandalidis
Deputy: Yiannis Drivelegas
Deputy: Asterios Rodoulis

Minister of the state

Giorgos Stavropoulos

My Big Fat Greek Government-48 Ministers in New PM's "Flexible" Cabinet

 

So, after more meetings and consultations, the new Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and representatives of the three parties (PASOK, New Democracy,LAOS) finalized the composition of the crisis cabinet which counts 48 (!) members-so much about the flexible cabinet Papadimos hoped for- as ND, PASOK and LAOS tried to squeeze in as many ministers as they could! Allegedly, the new PM  was adding and deleting names from the government list until 3 a.m. last night!
The government  consists of 48 people: PASOK (Socialists) has 38 officials,  Nea Dimocratia (Conservative) 6 and LAOS (far-right) 4. In an obvious attempt to please everyone, some ministries have representatives of all three parties, like  the Ministry of Defence where the Minister is from  ND, the two alternates are from PASOK and LAOS, and the deputy Minister comes from PASOK! Among other paradoxes, Dimitris Avramopoulos resigned from his seat at the Parliament as Antonis Samaras insisted of not providing Papademos with elected members of the parliament!
The Ceremony
At  the colourful traditional Greek swearing-in ceremony, black-robed Orthodox priests, led by the Archbishop of Athens Ieronimos, blessed Papademos seemed rather sceptical-he probably realised he basically agreed to take “Europe’s worst job” according to TIMES magazine. His so -called cabinet is dominated by the two main parties which for the past week wouldn’t stop backstabbing each other but are now asked to work together in order to “save the country”. The only thing looking positive for Papademos is -according to the Greek media- that numerology is by his side! He’s the 11th Prime Minister swearing in on 11/11/2011, a date according to “experts”  full of auspicious, spiritual, occult and paranormal signs.

The Government-PASOK  Oldies  
The majority of PASOK ministers stay right where they were with Evangelos Venizelos and Theodore Pangalos both remaining Deputy premiers. Mr. Venizelos also remains Finance Minister.
Dimitris Reppas (Minister for the Interior, Decentralization and Electronic Governance), Anna Diamantopoulou (Minister for Education, Lifelong Learning and Religious Affairs), Andreas Loverdos (Minister for Health and Social Solidarity), Michael Chrysochoidis (Minister for the Competitiveness and Shipping), George Papakonstantinou (Minister for the Environment, Energy and Climate Change), Κοstas Skandalidis (Minister for Rural Development and Food), Pavlos Geroulanos (Minister for Culture and Tourism)  and Christos Papoutsis (Citizen Protection Minister)  all stay put.
John Ragousis is transferred to the Ministry of Defence under new Minister Dimitris Avramopulos from ND and Mrs. Fofi Gennimata is transferred as Deputy Minister to the interior ministry.
ND and LAOS Newbies
Both ND Deputy leaders were given ministries, as Dimitris Avramopoulos is the new Defence Minister and Mr. Stavros Dimas, a former European commissioner is the new foreign minister. Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos is the Alternate Minister in the Ministry of Education,  Yiannis Mourmouras is appointed as  Deputy Minister under Evangelos Venizelos in the Ministry of Finance. Finaly, Petros Alivizatos is appointed Deputy Minister (Tourism). Dimitris Vartzopoulos Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Health under Andreas Loverdos.
From LAOS: Makis Voridis is the new Infrastructure Transport and Networks Minister, George Georgiou is the Alternate Minister in the Ministry of Defence, Adonis Georgiadis is the Deputy Minister for Shipping, and Asteris Rontoulis is the Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Rural Development and Food.
 

13th Annual 8-Week Intensive Greek and Latin Summer School in Ireland

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For the 13th year running, the Department of Classics at UCC offers an intensive 8-week summer school for beginners with parallel courses in Latin and Ancient Greek.

The courses are primarily aimed at postgraduate students in diverse disciplines who need to acquire a knowledge of either of the languages for further study and research, and at teachers whose schools would like to reintroduce Latin and Greek into their curriculum. Undergraduate students are more than welcome to apply as well.

The basic grammar will be covered in the first 6 weeks and a further 2 weeks will be spent reading original texts.

For further information and an application form see our website or contact the Director of the Summer School, Ms.Vicky Janssens.

Location:

University College Cork

Ireland

Monday, June 25, 2012 – 12:00am – Thursday, August 16, 2012 – 12:00am

 

Website: http://www.ucc.ie/en/classics/summerschool/

Contact:

Vicky Janssens

v.janssens@ucc.ie

00353214903618

 

FYROM Relies on Greek Government to Fix Name Issue

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The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia hopes that the newly appointed Greek government will be ready to put an end to the longtime dispute over the use of the name Macedonia the two countries have.

“I believe that the new Greek national unity government can undertake a process of unblocking the name dispute,” Foreign Minister of FYROM Nikola Poposki told reporters on Thursday. He added that he relied on a closer cooperation with Athens on resolving the issue that has been blocking his country’s EU accession bid.

The notorious name dispute between FYROM and Greece has been going on since the former declared independence in 1991. Greece is concerned that the recognition of Macedonia’s name could allow it to have territorial claims for it since much of northern Greece is also in the geographic region of Macedonia.

Greece and international intermediaries have suggested that the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia should adopt a name such as “Republic of Northern Macedonia” or “Republic of Macedonia-Skopje”, which have been rejected by the authorities of FYROM.

Greece in the 30th International Istanbul Book Fair

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For one more year, Greece will participate in the Istanbul Book Fair which will take place from November 12-15 2011.

You may visit the Greek stand and browse over 300 albums, books of classic and modern literature, scientific books, books for children, and books on museums of Greece, and the Greek language.

Also, in the Greek stand you will find books concerning the Greeks of Istanbul and the Minor Asia, their memoirs and literary works.

In the bookstore of the Greek stand you will have the opportunity to purchase Greek books in translation into Turkish.

Visit the Greek stand in Hall 10

Saturday, 12 Νovember: 11 a.m. – 20 p.m.
Sunday, 13 Νovember: 11.00 a.m. – 20 p.m.
Monday, 14 Νovember: 10.00 a.m. – 19.00 p.m.
Tuesday, 15 Νovember: 10.00 a.m. – 19.00 p.m.

Organisation: National Book Centre of Greece
Under the auspices of the Consulate General of Greece in Istanbul

For further information visit the following websites: http://www.sismanogliomegaro.com/, http://www.ekebi.gr/, http://www.istanbulbookfair.com/

Dr. Stassinopoulou of University of Vienna Says “Economics Supersedes Politics”

The Greek Professor of Byzantine and Neohellenic Studies at the University of Vienna, Mrs. Maria A. Stassinopoulou, gave a long interview to Austrian newspaper “Der Standard” commenting on recent developments in Greece.

“Greece is a characteristic example of economics superseding politics. This axiom as well as the general anxiety of the European leaders to realize who has the power control οf current circumstances are the main reasons why Greece is being portrayed in such a popularized and generalizing way by the international media.” said Mrs. Stassinopoulou.

According to the Greek Professor, the fear over the formation of new power relations is sidelined and transferred to the outskirts of the EU. The southeast country (Greece) is bearing the burden of this fear with all of its weaknesses and peculiarities as a country in terms of its tax collection system and several other issues. “But young people in Greece present themselves as Europeans and citizens of the EU” added Mrs. Stassinopoulou.

In her interview, Mrs. Stassinopoulou referred both to Modern Greek history and culture and the Byzantine era, which constitute two fields of research for the department of the University of Vienna, whose Chair is held by the Greek academic.

When asked about the new waves of migrants in Europe, Mrs. Stassinopoulou made a trip down memory lane referring to the Greek migrants moving to Austria, Germany, Belgium and Australia after the end of World War II and their return to their home country after the collapse of the dictatorship regime in 1974 and the EU membership access.

Armenian PM Congratulates New Greek PM Papademos

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Armenian PM Tigran Sarkisian congratulated the newly appointed Greek PM Lucas Papademos on taking office in such a crucial period of the Greek and European history.

According to the Armenian government press service, Mr. Sarkisian referred to the serious and important mission the new Greek PM has to carry out as developments in Greece are at the center of global attention.

“Mr. Prime Minister, I remember our joint work , when we led the central banks of our countries. You were very effective as chairman of Greek Central Bank making a significant contribution to the strengthening of the European Central Bank, and I am confident that this progress will continue,” his message says, according to Arka News Agency 15.

Mr. Sarkisian wished the PM of Greece energy and good luck for a speedy overcoming of the problems that have arisen in the country

Troika Expected In Athens Next Week

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The arrives in Athens next week to launch negotiations with the new Greek political leadership. Sources close international supervisors that the arrival of the IMF delegation has been already decided, while the details regarding the European delegation are under finalization.
EU officials had stated that the Troika would visit Athens, upon the agreement on the new government scheme. The confirmation of Greek commitments is the first agenda item.
(source: capital)

EU Commission Calls for More Measures

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Despite expectations to the contrary, the European Commission asks for additional Greek measures in its report published on Thursday on the European Union’s economy as daily Kathimerini writes. Brussels expects Greece’s budget deficit this year to amount to 8.9% of the country’s gross domestic product, suggesting that ”it is no longer sustainable for the fiscal gap to close within 2011.” The original draft for the 2012 budget included a forecast of 8.5% for this year’s deficit, while the target had been 7.6%.
For 2012, the Commission expects the deficit to go down to 7%, against an original estimate of 6.8%. Brussels sees a minimal drop to 6.8% in 2013. The report goes on to underscore the significance of the October 27 eurozone summit agreement, arguing that if it is not implemented, the public debt will next year soar from the forecast level of 162.8% of GDP to 198.3%. Greece’s economy is not expected to revert to growth before 2013, while the decline in labor costs is seen continuing in the coming years. The Commission estimates that the recession will reach 5.5% of GDP this year and 2.8% in 2012. In 2013 the economy is projected to post 0.7% growth. ”Greece’s efforts for a fiscal adjustment are great,” the report notes, ”but more measures are necessary,” without which, it argues, the deficit would spiral out of control. The issue of the measures for 2013 and 2014 remains open between Athens and its creditors. They must amount to 8.2 billion euros and concern nothing other than the reduction of public expenditure and in a structural rather than across-the-board fashion. Finance Minister Evangelos Venizelos had a meeting on Thursday with ministry officials ahead of the tabling of the 2012 budget that must reach Parliament by November 21.

Papademos Eyes Flexible And Combatant Cabinet

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The new interim government swears an oath on Friday noon, then the procedure of vote of confidence would launch.
Consultations continued until late Thursday between the new Prime Minister Lucas Papademos and representatives of the three parties (PASOK, New Democracy, LAOS) regarding the composition of the cabinet.
Sources note that Papademos does not consider sweeping changes, as there is no time for briefing and adjustments. He also sees a small, flexible and combatant cabinet.
Information indicates that Evangelos Venizelos would remain Vice President of the government and Finance Minister. Anna Diamantopoulou, Andreas Loverdor, Yannis Ragousis, Mihalis Chrysochoidis and possibly Christos Papoutsis will also remain ministers.
New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras recommended former EU Commissioner Stavros Dimas, Dimitris Avramopoulos, Konstantinos Arvanitopoulos and Yannis Mourmouras. The party would possible get four ministries: Foreign Affairs, Defence, Education and the position of Deputy Finance Minister. But ND officials clarify that these are suggestions, not demands.
Two LAOS MPs would possibly be involved in the new cabinet, although the party’s vice president said that two ministries wouldn’t be enough”.
(source: capital)