The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 09-03-14

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

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

CONTENTS

[01] G20: Conflicts and Efforts for Consensus

The Browns welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her husband at Chequers Court, the official country residence of British Prime Ministers since 1921. However, the fresh air and tranquility of the countryside were not enough to ease tension. The German Chancellor rejected the likelihood of a new stimulus package, despite the pressure exerted by the British Prime Minister and the US President to step up coordinated fiscal measures.

The two leaders, however, appeared optimistic over the shaping of a new global regulatory system, as well as over the abolishment of tax havens, following Switzerland's agreement to accept concessions on bank secrecy.

Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner hailed Saturday Switzerland's decision to ease banking secrecy and voiced his satisfaction over the "unprecedented" global cooperation reported at the G20 Financial Ministers' meeting.

However, the G20 Financial Ministers avoided touching on the thorny issue of freeing the banking system from toxic bonds, shifting their attention to the International Monetary Fund. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev gave a hint of the hard bargain that is expected in April between the developed nations and the developing ones.

The British Prime Minister's office had to elaborate on the cost of the forthcoming G20 Summit, arguing it would only cost 19 million pounds, compared to the 280 million pounds spent for last year's G8 Summit held in Japan.

News item: 20114

[02] New Polls Appear in Sunday Press

Less than three months before the elections for the European Parliament, PASOK is 2.5 percent ahead of ND, a nationwide RASS poll commission for Paron tis Kyriakis paper has shown.

32.1% PASOK (Panhellenic Socialist Movement), 29.6% ND (New Democracy), 7.9% SYRIZA (Coalition of Radical Left), 7.1% KKE (Greek Communist Party), 5.1% LAOS (Popular Orthodox Rally) and 3.2% Greens

The survey conducted by FOCUS on behalf of Real News paper has suggested that were elections to take place next Sunday, PASOK would be 3 percent ahead of ND.

PASOK 30.2% ND 27.2% KKE 7% SYRIZA 6.8% LAOS 3.6%

Finally, the poll carried out by Public Issue on behalf of Kathimerini paper has indicated that PASOK enjoys a 5 percent lead over ND.

PASOK 40% ND 35%, KKE 8.5%, SYRIZA 7.5%, LAOS 5% Greens 3%

Regarding Socialist leader George Papandreou's statement, whereby this year's elections for the European Parliament should be taken as a referendum for the government, the RASS poll has shown that 45.8 percent of the respondents disagree, 36.7 percent agree.

Both the financial crisis and the surveys, which keep suggesting that no independent government would emerge, have yet again given rise to scenarios speaking of party coalitions. However, both the Prime Minister and leading government officials have rejected a coalition between ND and LAOS.

In the FOCUS survey, 42.5 percent of the respondents believe that a possible coalition between ND and LAOS will distance centre voters from the ruling party, while 38.7 percent claim that it will make centre-right stronger.

Source: NET

News item: 20116

The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article