The Hellenic Radio (ERA): News in English, 10-08-29

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

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

CONTENTS

[01] Selection of Candidates Entering Final Stage

Political parties' staff are working feverishly to select candidates for local administration elections to be held in November. PASOK party is expected to announce the names of its candidates at the culmination of the National Council works next Sunday. The New Democracy party has released the names of the majority of its candidates. Inevitably local administration elections is taking a political dimension. In response to possibility of government reshuffle, deputy premier Theodoros Pagalos, in an interview with newspaper "Realnews", said: " the Prime-minister, who takes into account the productivity of his staff when proceeding to government reshuffle, will make the decision". Furthermore, Mr. Pagalos admitted delay in the materialization of investment plans, placing emphasis on acceleration in the lifting of bureaucratic obstacles. He also referred that investment plans usually face bureaucratic problems with the Finance, Environment and Culture ministries. Mr. Pagalos spoke highly about Interior Minister Yiannis Ragusis, stressing that he worked his way up from the base of politics, local administration to reach the point at present of materializing big reforms such as "Kallikratis".

Regarding the memorandum, Mr. Pagalos said it is a reality but the role of the government, beyond the commitment to observe it, is to proceed to structural reforms which were mandatory since years ago". He also clarified that we should not give troika staff a role they do not claim, adding "this is a very delicate issue".

The deputy premier maintained that the government should exhaust its four-term in office. He objected to the formation of an anti-government front during local elections by the ND and part of the left wing. He specifically said: "If ND wants to play the role of a dissolving factor, it has the right to do it. We can not stop them if they want to commit suicide".

He wished good luck to his wife, who is a candidate in local administration elections.

GCP Appeals for People's Vote in Local Elections

The GCP Central Committee appeals for the vote of all employees in the public and private sector, the self-employed, middle-size businessmen, farmers and all people who hoped that PASOK and ND would bring a better future to the country.

GCP basic stand is that local administration elections is a big opportunity "and we call you to cooperate with your vote and actions for a new beginning in political and ideological independence from the plutocracy parties and the EU". It also asks for the punishment of PASOK and the ND in the elections, underlining that developments in the last years proved that the only party that told the truth to the Greek people is the GCP , citing that the present crisis is the crisis of the capitalist system and not the result of one or other management, ability or inability of managers. It also maintains that the memorandum contains measures decided 20 years ago at the EU headquarters with the agreement of PASOK and ND to strengthen competitiveness of business groups.

SOURCES: ÍÅÔ, ÁNA-ÌPA

Related News: Deliberations in view of local elections

News item: 39866

[02] G. Karatzaferis Fresh Intervention in ND

LAOS president George Karatzaferis made a fresh intervention in ND party domestic affairs. In an interview with newspaper "Realnews", he proposed the main opposition party deputy president Dimitris Avramopoulos as candidate for Attica region. "I make an ultimate appeal to prevent election of the mini prime-minister from PASOK party . Propose Mr. Avramopoulos , who has a big experience in local administration, and is the party's deputy president. We could support Mr. Avramopoulos with deputy -prefects from our party", said G. Karatzaferis. In an immediate response, the ND underlined that it has already announced Basilis Kikilias candidacy for the post. In the meantime, ND party spokesman Panos Panagiotopoulos, in an interview with "Realnews" newspaper left open possibility of writing off any senior member that would not support the selections of the party's leadership.

Sources: ÍÅÔ, ÍÅÔ 105.8 News item: 39862

[03] Rakintzis Gives Important Evidence

General Inspector of Public Administration Leandros Rakintzis has handed very important evidence on 1076 corruption cases involving state employees and officials to Supreme Court president Ioannis Tentes. Inspection organs have referred all these cases to justice in the last 6 years but they have not been cleared, they are still pending. The Public Prosecutor has ordered investigation of all cases according to priority.

The General Inspector of Public Administration has sent a huge folder -containing reports of inspections since 2004, a total of 1076 corruption cases which have been referred to justice and are still pending. The public prosecutor had asked for evidence following Mr. Rakintzis claims about big delay in attribution of justice.

A big corruption case involving many illegal actions-embezzlement, illegal hiring of personnel, non submission of source of income declaration-was found in Krestena taxation Office in 2006 but a court ruling has not been issued yet.

Mr. Rakintzis asked for activation of regulation providing for his briefing on court rulings so he can exercise all legal means.

Source: ÍÅÔ

News item: 39874

[04] "Second Pilot" Passed Away

Flight Lieutenant Iosif Anastasakiss 36yo, who was seriously injured during two F-16 war planes crash, on Thursday, passed away at 01:15, on Sunday. His funeral will be held at 17:30, in his home town Gegeri, in the island of Crete. The country's state and political leadership expressed their deep grief for the death of the flight lieutenant while Defense Minister Evangelos Venizelos has extended Armed forces mourning by two days. The funeral of Anastasios Balatsukas 33yo, who died in the same crash, was held in his home town in Arta, on Saturday.

Iosif Marinakis had very bad fractures but the biggest problem was the irreparable brain damage caused by three heart failures while being transported to hospital. Iosif Marinakis was married, had a three year old daughter and his wife is pregnant.

The President of the Republic Karolos Papoulias , in a letter of condolence , expressed his deep grief and wish not to mourn any more officers.

Prime-minister George Papandreou, the Speaker of the House Filippos Petsalnikos, Defense Minister E. Venizelos and all political party leaders expressed their deep grief and condolences to the family of Iosif Marinakis.

Source: ÁNA-ÌPA

Related News: Pilot in Critical Condition

News item: 39859

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