Greece`s new government

The members of Greece’s new government were unveiled yesterday afternoon, following a meeting among Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Evangelos Venizelos and Fotis Kouvelis -the respective leaders of PASOK and Democratic Left- that support the coalition government. The new government consists of 39 members of which 25 are New Democracy party deputies and 14 members are non-elected technocrats.

 

Non Executive Chairman of the Board of the National Bank of Greece and University of Athens Professor Vassilis Rapanos has been appointed Economy and Finance Minister; Dimitris Avramopoulos is  the new Foreign Minister, and Kostis Hatzidakis, Development, Infrastructure, Transport and Networks Minister.

 

The members of the new government were sworn in  in the presence of Hellenic Republic President Karolos Papoulias and Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, with the exception of the Finance Ministry’s leadership. Addressing the first Cabinet meeting, the new PM said that the government, which has full power as stipulated by the Constitution ,”has no grace period.” He also announced a 30% cut in the ministers’ salaries.

 

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

Parliamentary Elections 2012 in Greece – Results

According to Interior Ministry results of the Parliamentary Elections 2012 that took place (on May 6) throughout the country, seven parties are entering the Hellenic  Parliament.

With 110% of the vote counted, the results are as follows: New Democracy (ND) polls first with 18.85% securing 108 seats, the Coalition of Radical Left (SYRIZA) is in second place with 16.78% of vote and 52 seats, PASOK is third with 13.18% and 41 seats, the Independent Greeks party gets 10.6% and 33 seats, the Communist Party of Greece gets 8.48% of vote and 26 seats, Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) 6.97% and 21 seats, and Democratic Left 6.1% of vote and 19 seats.

The Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) and Eco-Greens with 2.90 % and 2.93% respectively did not manage to pass the minimum 3% threshold, thus failing to enter Parliament.

From the 9.949.401 registered citizens, 65.10% participated in the electoral process and 34.9% abstained, while invalid/blank votes reached 2.36%.

International Court of Justice Ruling on Distomo Case

In an announcement, issued on February 3, concerning an International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling upholding Germany’s position, that it enjoys state immunity from being sued in foreign courts by victims of Nazi atrocities during World War II, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs states that the Greek government will study this Judgement closely, in the light of its firm and longstanding position that the matter of German compensations remains open.
The judgement affects the case of the south-central Greek village of Distomo, where Nazi troops killed 214 civilians on June 10, 1944, one of the numerous instances of WWII atrocities in occupied Greece. The court case concerned the confiscation of German property on Italian soil for reparations to be paid to victims of Distomo.

• MPs Raise War Reparations Issue

Meanwhile, in Athens, 28 MPs from PASOK, New Democracy (ND), Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) as well as independent deputies tabled a motion in Parliament requesting a discussion on issues concerning the so-called German occupation loan from Greece during WWII, as well as the issue of war reparations to victims of Nazi atrocities and stolen treasures from the country.
In a letter addressed to the presidents of competent parliamentary committees, the MPs called on Parliament to adopt a clear stance on this “crucial national issue.”
(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)

In Memoriam: Konstantinos Karamanlis (1907-1998)

(GREEK NEWS AGENDA)  April 23, 2008 marked ten years since the death of Konstantinos Karamanlis, a towering figure of Greek politics whose career spanned much of the latter half of the 20th century. Karamanlis served as prime minister for fourteen years, and ten as President of the Hellenic Republic. He was born in 1907 in Proti, Central Macedonia and studied Law. He entered politics in 1935. His first premiership lasted from 1955-1963. After resigning, he left Greece and remained self-exiled in Paris throughout the military regime (1967-1974). In 1974, the year of restoration of the Greek democracy, Karamanlis returned to Greece and founded the New Democracy party. His second premiership (1974-1980) was marked by the signing of the full treaty of accession to the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1979. Karamanlis’ vision became a reality on January 1st 1981, when Greece became the tenth member of the EEC. Karamanlis crowned his political career serving two tenures as President of the Hellenic Rebublic (1980-1985 and 1990-1995). He passed away on April 23 1998 aged 91. Today, the annual memorial service was held at the Konstantinos G. Karamanlis Foundation. Prime Minister and nephew of the Statesman Kostas Karamanlis attended the service.