Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-01-10

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

CONTENTS

[01] Mitsotakis to Alpha: 'Tsipras has no plan for the future'

[02] Newspaper publisher, director arrested for libel, attempted extortion after ANEL leader's lawsuit

[01] Mitsotakis to Alpha: 'Tsipras has no plan for the future'

"Tsipras does not have a real plan for the future; we do," he said, noting that this plan included ways to attract investments, reforms, lower tax rates and a smaller, less costly state sector.

Referring to the changes within the main opposition party in the one year since he took over its leadership, Mitsotakis said ND's biggest problem was that it had become associated with the "old" political system.

"ND has offered much and made its own mistakes. We have conducted some brave self-criticism and changed much inside ND," he said.

Mitsotakis said his government would also include several ministers from outside Parliament, while on the issue of public-sector layoffs, he made clear that only those hired or given permanent jobs illegally will be dismissed.

ND's leader further promised to "clean up" Athens' Exarchia district, noting that the government was unable to tackle the anarchist elements given a free rein there. "I have absolute faith in the Greek police. I am not sure I can say the same for their political leadership," he added, saying police were up to the task if given the political orders and direction to do so. He also promised to abolish the law passed by the previous justice minister and to build at least one maximum security prison.

[02] Newspaper publisher, director arrested for libel, attempted extortion after ANEL leader's lawsuit

The publisher, Ioannis Kourtakis, said in a Facebook post he went voluntarily to police headquarters (GADA) after being informed about the lawsuit, while director Panagiotis Tzenos was arrested by police in his office.

"ANEL president and Defence Minister Panos Kammenos filed a lawsuit against Kourtakis […] and Tzenos […], for repeated libel and attempted extortion through repeated attacks against Panos Kammenos […] made by the radio station 'Parapolitika 90.1 FM', in order for the minister to withdraw his accusations that Kourtakis allegedly received 843,000 euros from KEELPNO and Tzenos 629,000 euros," an ANEL press release said about the arrests.

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