Athens News Agency: News in English, 06-09-09

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

CONTENTS

[01] Main opposition blasts gov't policy

[01] Main opposition blasts gov't policy

"(Ruling) New Democracy's policy has clearly failed to advance a just society. Economic policy has failed to take the country forward and has hurt the majority of people while aiding the few, the powerful and its own party people," PASOK leader George Papandreou told a party meeting in Lefkada.

Working people and households were seeing their income evaporate in steep consumer prices, with the goverment sitting back as middle-men became wealthy, banks increased their profits, and certain large vested interests reaped benefits, Papandreou claimed.

In addition, the government had lowered spending on security, pensions, education, health, welfare, local government and the regions, also failing to absorb key funding from the European Union. The government should also act to lower interest rates for the public.

Papandreou renewed his criticism of mergers and acquisitions involving state-run firms, saying that the state bought at high prices but sold cheap, employing public money.

Finally, the party leader complained of corruption in state services, saying that even the government admitted that the situation had further deteriorated.

"The government is operating without values, rules or principles," Papandreou added.

Gov't strikes back

Goverment spokesman Theodoros Roussopoulos replied in a statement that the previous PASOK government was responsible for allowing problems to emerge and become more severe over the two decades it held power.

The current government had produced tangible and measurable results for both the country as a whole and its citizens, Roussopoulos said.

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