NEWS IN ENGLISH 20/12/2014
Alternate Environment Minister Nikos Tagaras finally brought the controversial Environment Ministry Bill to Parliament despite the immediate reaction of citizens and groups with a petition signed by over 40,000 people. As he stated today “the government has no wish to cause speculation on gaps possibly created in the legal framework protecting forests. The Bill however was voted after 43 amendments were added, causing the withdrawal of the MPs of SYRIZA and of the Communist Party from the procedure.
Turmoil in the political scene is continued after the allegations of Independent Greeks MPPavlos Haikalisforattempted bribery in the background of the Presidential election.
SYRIZA commented on the statement of the Prime Minister that he intends to file a lawsuit against Mr. Haikalis, that this “edgy” reaction does not comply with his institutional role towards a Member of the Parliament.
The House Ethics Committee has decided to investigate the issue of the allegations of MP Pavlos Haikalis the soonest possible. For this reason the chairman of the Committee Christos Markogiannakis has visited Supreme Court Advocate Efterpi Goutzamani.
SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras addressed party members during a regional programming meeting in the Exposition Center of Western Macedonia in Kozani. “It is time we got rid of this corrupt regime,” he noted. Commenting on political reactions to SYRIZA he said:
“The dogs may bark, but the caravan goes on”.
The board of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) decided to grant Greece a two-month extension of the country’s current bailout program, after a request from the Greek Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis.
Consequently Greece will be able to collect the remaining 1.8 billion euros until the end of February, provided that the last review of the current program with the troika is concluded successfully.
The two-month extension of the current bailout program is to be sanctioned by the Greek Parliament in the form of an amendment to a bill concerning the Observatory for Dementia, which will be tabled next Monday, one day before the second Presidential vote.
Organisation “Solidarity for All” proceeded to the distribution of about a hundred tons of food to 54 social welfare units. The event was accommodated by the Prefect of Attiki in the KTEO warehouse in Mandra.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
In Spain massive demonstrations took place in 30 cities, protesting against the so called “Muzzle law” which has caused widespread indignation within and outside the country.
This law actually legitimises the violations of human rights since it includes, among others, heavy fines for those who take pictures or record the police, for anyone who is protesting without permission, for those who congregate in front of the Parliament or convene in public places, forbidding even public forms of peaceful disobedience.
WEATHER
Weather is expected to be fair in most parts of Greece on Sunday, with local clouds and showers in the afternoon in the regions of Western Crete, Halkidiki and Evia.
Mostly fair weather in Athens, with temperatures up to 16 degrees Celsius.
Sunshine with scattered clouds in Thessalonica and temperatures reaching 13 degrees Celsius.
Turmoil in the political scene is continued after the allegations of Independent Greeks MPPavlos Haikalisforattempted bribery in the background of the Presidential election.
SYRIZA commented on the statement of the Prime Minister that he intends to file a lawsuit against Mr. Haikalis, that this “edgy” reaction does not comply with his institutional role towards a Member of the Parliament.
The House Ethics Committee has decided to investigate the issue of the allegations of MP Pavlos Haikalis the soonest possible. For this reason the chairman of the Committee Christos Markogiannakis has visited Supreme Court Advocate Efterpi Goutzamani.
SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras addressed party members during a regional programming meeting in the Exposition Center of Western Macedonia in Kozani. “It is time we got rid of this corrupt regime,” he noted. Commenting on political reactions to SYRIZA he said:
“The dogs may bark, but the caravan goes on”.
The board of the European Financial Stability Facility (EFSF) decided to grant Greece a two-month extension of the country’s current bailout program, after a request from the Greek Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis.
Consequently Greece will be able to collect the remaining 1.8 billion euros until the end of February, provided that the last review of the current program with the troika is concluded successfully.
The two-month extension of the current bailout program is to be sanctioned by the Greek Parliament in the form of an amendment to a bill concerning the Observatory for Dementia, which will be tabled next Monday, one day before the second Presidential vote.
Organisation “Solidarity for All” proceeded to the distribution of about a hundred tons of food to 54 social welfare units. The event was accommodated by the Prefect of Attiki in the KTEO warehouse in Mandra.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
In Spain massive demonstrations took place in 30 cities, protesting against the so called “Muzzle law” which has caused widespread indignation within and outside the country.
This law actually legitimises the violations of human rights since it includes, among others, heavy fines for those who take pictures or record the police, for anyone who is protesting without permission, for those who congregate in front of the Parliament or convene in public places, forbidding even public forms of peaceful disobedience.
WEATHER
Weather is expected to be fair in most parts of Greece on Sunday, with local clouds and showers in the afternoon in the regions of Western Crete, Halkidiki and Evia.
Mostly fair weather in Athens, with temperatures up to 16 degrees Celsius.
Sunshine with scattered clouds in Thessalonica and temperatures reaching 13 degrees Celsius.