Welcome to Demotix!

If you're having problems logging in to the Demotix website, then you might need to clear the cookies stored in your browser.

This page explains how to remove cookies in most popular browsers.

Please email support@demotix.com with details of your browser and operating system if you're still not able to log in.

News Hub

Thessaloniki athens

3 Stories - 21 Images - 1 Contributors
Protesters attack bank with pickaxes and stones - Thessaloniki, Greece

Politics

IMF - EU rescue plan provokes wave of protests across Greece

The announcement by Greek PM, Giorgos Papandreou to implement the joint European Union - IMF rescue package brings Greeks out onto the streets in...

by Craig Wherlock in Greece on 23/04/2010

According to the leading Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the next 72 hours are going to prove crucial if the government is to convince European and International money markets that Greece can be trusted to implement its Stabilisation program and reduce its massive $400 billion debt load. Athens, Greece. 10/02/2010. The program announced this week by recently elected socialist prime minister Giorgos Papandreou has angered civil service trade unions unhappy with goods in bonuses and the promise of a two year wage freeze. In response the civil service trade uniuon confederation ADEDY called a series of stoppages and strikes for the next three days. The action has grounded all flights in and out of the country and severely disrupted train timetables. In addition trade unions and left wing political parties organised marches in Athens, Thessaloniki and over 60 other Greek towns. Braving torrential rains thousands took to the srtreets to protest the government's austerity measures. Despite promising wage increases and a rise in unemployment benefits the left wing PASOK government is unlikely to concede to worker's demands as such a move would weaken attempts by Athens to secure a European backed bailout package. Despite initial talk of Greece putting its own economic house in order intense pressure by speculators has raised fears that if Greece defaults on its financial commitments failure would have a knock on effect on Portugal and Spain and so threaten the Euro itself.

Business

Greece seeks approval of international money markets for Stabilisation Program

DMTX. According to the leading Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the next 72 hours are going to prove crucial if the government is to convince European...

by Craig Wherlock in Greece on 10/02/2010

To listen to some international accounts of the current debt crisis you might be forgiven for thinking that the 300 billion euros Greece owes has been used to fund some kind of Balkan version of a Scandanavian welfare state. That the money has been spent on funding an unsustainably generous social safety net. However, even a brief visit to the country's decrepit hospitals and threadbare schools is enough to disabuse even the most casual observer that that the huge mountain of debt accumulated has been used to improve the lives of the poorest Greeks. While in theory Greece has a welfare state that compares with other EU members the reality is that much of this provision is of low quality or non-existent. As a result of such systematic deficiencies people are forced to pay for services that other Europeans take for granted. Few, if any student entering the countries universities have got there without massive investment of time and money by parents in the form of expensive extra tuition. Similarly, medical treatment in the country's supposedly free health care system costs billions in terms private charges and bribes. Instead most of the money has simply evaporated in a miasma of corruption and incompetence which means that any public works contract almost invariably goes over cost, requiring double ot triple the time originally alloted. Case in point is the underground railway system being built in the northern port city of Thessaloniki which started 45 months ago and already is 32 months behind schedule. That number is set to rise as the Itallian construction company which won the countract has announced that it will fire 80% of its employees in March if it does not receive extra funding. On the other hand the country Greece's bloated public sector can still afford to pay some of its better connnected employees 16 salaries per year. Those luckily to be employed by parliament are paid for 16 months work annually. At the other end of the spectrum tens of thousands often wait months or years to be paid wages owed. Giorgos Papandreou has been working hard over the last week at the Davos World Economic Forum to try and persuade fellow Europeans and international economic markets that the his newly elected socialist government can reign in spending and raise more revenue. However, how much influence he has upon a system that his party has been instrumental in maintaining over the last 35 years is open to doubt. For the last four decades both left and right have used the public sector as a way of gaining and maintaining voter loyalty by handing out jobs and contracts in return for political support. As a result the country's infrastructure has been manned not by the brightest or the best but the most faithful. Entry and progress depend not on competence but on balancing the myriad of personal, family and political connections that form the basis on any succesful career in Greece. With unemployment predicted to hit one million in 2010 the chances of social conflict and clashes between social groups unwilling to make sacrifices and a government unable to pay seem unavoidable. Already farmers have blockaded much of the country's transport network in order to demand one billion euros in funding and sweeping changes in agricutural policy.

Politics

Greek economy faces possibility of melt down

To listen to some international accounts of the current debt crisis you might be forgiven for thinking that the 300 billion euros Greece owes has...

by Craig Wherlock in Greece on 30/01/2010

23/04/2010 - IMF - EU rescue plan provokes wave of protests across Greece - Greece - The announcement by Greek PM, Giorgos...
10/02/2010 - Greece seeks approval of international money markets for Stabilisation Program - Greece - DMTX. According to the leading Greek...
30/01/2010 - Greek economy faces possibility of melt down - Greece - To listen to some international...

Latest News

IMF - EU rescue plan provokes wave of protests across Greece

Politics

IMF - EU rescue plan provokes wave of protests across G...

The announcement by Greek PM, Giorgos Papandreou to implement the joint European Union - IMF rescue package brings Greeks out onto the streets in protest marches nationwide. Thessaloni...
by Craig Wherlock, on 23rd of April 2010
Greece seeks approval of international money markets for Stabilisation Program

Business

Greece seeks approval of international money markets fo...

DMTX. According to the leading Greek newspaper Kathimerini, the next 72 hours are going to prove crucial if the government is to convince European and International money markets that G...
by Craig Wherlock, on 10th of February 2010
Greek economy faces possibility of melt down

Politics

Greek economy faces possibility of melt down

To listen to some international accounts of the current debt crisis you might be forgiven for thinking that the 300 billion euros Greece owes has been used to fund some kind of Balkan v...
by Craig Wherlock, on 30th of January 2010

Reporters