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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 15-06-15
CONTENTS
[01] Greece's course in Europe and the eurozone will continue, President
Pavlopoulos says
[02] Clear lead for SYRIZA in Public Issue poll; support for euro at 71%
[03] Large number of undocumented migrants rescued during the weekend
[01] Greece's course in Europe and the eurozone will continue, President
Pavlopoulos says
The country's course in the eurozone and Europe will continue,
President of Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos said in a meeting with the
Administrative Committee of the Central Union of Hellenic Chambers
on Monday.
The Greek President also called for unity of the country's political
forces at these crucial times.
"We are struggling for a deal, which will meet the principles of
Europe and Greece's perspectives," Pavlopoulos underlined and added:
"Irrespective of political differences existing in the political forces,
I am convinced that at this time everyone will have to rise to the
circumstances to achieve this common goal, since Greeks know well,
especially in recent years, that we solve together all the great and
important issues."
[02] Clear lead for SYRIZA in Public Issue poll; support for euro at 71%
ANA-MPA -- Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the ruling coalition's
leading party SYRIZA retained a clear lead over the opposition,
according to a barometer poll conducted by Public Issue and published
in the Sunday edition of the newspaper "Avghi".
Estimated voter support for SYRIZA was more than double that for runner-up
New Democracy at 48.5 pct, compared with 21 pct for ND, 6 pct for the
Communist Party of Greece (KKE), 6 pct for far-right Golden Dawn, 5.5
pct for Potami, 4 pct for PASOK, 3.5 pct for junior coalition partner
Independent Greeks (ANEL) and 5.5 pct for other parties. Support for
the government's stance in the negotiations was expressed by 54 pct,
while 37 pct disagreed, and 56 pct were in favour of a ratification
of any agreement by Parliament compared with 34 pct that favoured
ratification by referendum. A further 37 pct said that the government
must back down in the negotiations, while 58 pct said it should not
give in. On individual aspects of the negotiations, 89 pct were against
any reduction in main pensions, 81 pct opposed removing restrictions
on mass lay offs, 79 pct opposed reduction in supplementary pensions,
57 pct opposed retaining the Uniform Real Estate Ownership Tax, 52 pct
were against imposing a single VAT rate of 18 pct, and 43 pct opposed
privatisation of regional airports. The prime minister retained high
levels of popularity at 77 pct, with 63 pct judging him most suitable
for prime minister, compared with just 20 pct for ND leader Antonis
Samaras, whose popularity was at 28 pct. On levels of satisfaction with
the operation of the government, roughly 44 pct were still satisfied,
with roughly 55 pct dissatisfied. Dissatisfaction with the operation of
the opposition parties, by contrast, was running at roughly 88 pct, with
a mere 11 pct expressing satisfaction. Public opinion on the European
Union was split, with 50 pct having a negative opinion and 48 pct having
a positive opinion and 2 pct expressing no opinion. Support for remaining
in the euro in the case of a referendum continued to be strong at 71 pct,
with 25 pct against and 4 pct expressing no opinion. Support for a return
to the drachma, by contrast, stood at 19 pct, whereas 68 pct considered
that a return to the drachma will probably make things worse, 10 pct
considered that it would make no difference and 3 pct had no opinion.
[03] Large number of undocumented migrants rescued during the weekend
ANA/MPA---Coast Guard rescued over 901 undocumented migrants from
Friday 12 June until early Monday in 27 separate incidents in the
eastern Aegean Sea.
According to the port authorities, the incidents were recorded near or on
the islands of Lesvos, Chios, Agathonissi, Farmakonissi, Pserimos and Kos.
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