Greek electricity company's building occupied for 4 days

By @inflammatory_

pic by @galaxyarchis

(Wed Nov 23) It's the fourth day in a raw since Sunday when Public Power Corporation's premises were occupied by the company's workers' union (GENOP). The union members have shut down the company's computer system, in an attempt to halt issuance of electricity cut notice, for those households that fail to pay the controversial property tax, which is collected through power bills. 

PPC administration and the minister of Environment asked for prosecutor's intervention who gave yesterday evening, a 3hours deadline to vacate the site. GENOP union's president N.Fotopoulos when speaking with the press though, stressed out that the union would not back off. On top of that, there 've been two unsuccesful attempts to put the system back into operation, when the company's management* accompanied with electricians, dropped by the building to discuss with union reps. 

Lefties, representatives of local government, people from communities' assemblies and political disobedience movement "I am not paying", as well as students, and trade union reps, have showed up outside the occupied premises in solidarity with GENOP. Yesterday, leaders of left-wing parties,  A.Papariga and A.Tsipras, appeared on the spot, expressing their opposition to the property tax when interviewed by journalists.

While typing these lines, a bin is set alight to keep people warm as they plan to stay overnight, safeguarding the site from possible police intervention.

*once by the site's manager and another from the General Manager of distribution division, N.Aravantinos along with the HR Director G.Triantafillides - source: newsit.gr

Live Blog - 1973 uprising anniversary rally (Nov.17, 2011)

By @inflammatory_

22:00 Thessaloniki: uni students & faculti outside the campus entrance chanting slogans against violation of asylum by riot police. Students rally to the city centre
21:41 Thessaloniki: riot police left from Aristotle uni premises

Journal hebdomadaire de #rbnews 5-12 novembre 2011

De @galaxyarchis, traduit du grec par @Krotkie

L’événement principal pendant la deuxième semaine depuis le début de la crise gouvernementale grecque –qui a failli tourner en mondiale- après le préavis d’un référendum sur l’accord du 26 octobre par l’ex Premier Ministre, M. G. Papandreou, a été la recherche d’un nouveau gouvernement d’  « unité nationale ». Après deux semaines sans gouvernement, le nouveau gouvernement a prêté son serment hier, avec M. Loucas Papademos au poste du Premier Ministre ; sa composition fait preuve de négociations très intenses dans les coulisses.

Mr. Loucas Papademos is the new Greek Prime Minister

Par @Krotkie

Further to long negotiations among the Greek political leaders with the President of the Republic, Mr. Loucas Papademos has been appointed as the new Prime Minister of Greece, around 15:00 today. After his appointment, he made the following statement (podcast in Greek here).

I have accepted the proposal to form a government of national salvation. I am grateful for the confidence. It is a great honour, but the responsibility is even greater. I am not a political person. Greece is on a critical crossroad. The way will not be easy, but the problems will be resolved, provided that we are united and wise. The new government will be a transitional one. Its main task will be implementing the 26 October agreements and the financial policies related to these agreements. We all need to be optimist about the success of our goals. I would like to clarify that no conditions have been set for any political leader.

Mr. Papademos also mentioned that the participation of Greece to the Eurozone is facilitating the adaptation and growth of the economy.

Further to a question by a journalist, related to the timetable for elections, Mr. Papadimos' reply was as follows:

"A precise timetable has not yet been concluded, but our point of reference is the framework, as it was settled on the previous meeting of the political leaders".

The new Government is supported by  PaSoK (Socialist Party), Nea Demokratia (Conservative party) and LaOS (extreme right party). Representatives of the three parties will meet later today, in order to decide about the members of the new Government, which will be appointed on Friday afternoon. 

Evénements politiques en Grèce 4 Novembre 2011

De @galaxyarchis, traduit du grec par @IrateGreek

Le 4 Novembre, troisième et dernière journée du processus de vote de confiance, a été marqué par un changement coordonné dans l’attitude de certains députés du PASOK, qui jusqu’à la veille semblaient décidés à ne plus désormais soutenir le gouvernement. Bien que vague, le projet de formation d’un gouvernement d’unité nationale afin d’achever les démarches nécessaires à la ratification de la nouvelle convention de prêt semble avoir rassuré les députés qui s’étaient retrouvés dans l’opposition vis-à-vis du premier ministre.

Daily round-up - Political developments in Greece 04 November 2011

By @galaxyarchis, translated from Greek by @IrateGreek

04 November was the 3^rd day of the confidence vote process and was marked by a coordinated change of attitude by PASOK members of parliament, who yesterday appeared to withhold their support for the government. The vague plans for forming a “national unity” government in order to complete the process for the next loan agreement reassured those MPs who had found themselves opposing the prime minister.

Until the opening of the session of parliament in the afternoon, one PASOK MP after the other expressed support for the idea of a transitional government. Public statements by Christofilopoulou, Gerekou, Voudouris, Papagerogiou expressed the hope that by Monday the Prime Minister will have launched the procedure to form such a government.

Evénements politiques en Grèce 3 Novembre 2011

De @galaxyarchis, traduit du grec par @IrateGreek

La journée a commencé dans une atmosphère tendue en raison des déclarations de Mme Merkel et M. Sarkozy, qui ont formulé très clairement que la seule question valable pour un référendum serait "oui ou non à l'euro," et que la seule réponse acceptable de la part du peuple grec serait "oui." La confusion règne et les négociations constantes se prolongent jusqu'au début du Conseil ministériel.

Political developments in Greece on 3rd November 2011

By @galaxyarchis, translated from Greek by @Krotkie

The day starts in a heavy ambiance due to Ms. Merkel's and Mr. Sarkozy's  statements, who made it clear that the only eligible question for a referendum would be "yes or no to the Euro" and that the only (acceptable) answer on behalf of the Greek people could be "yes".
Until the Ministerial Council starts, there is just confusion and ongoing political negociations.

Until noon, five Socialist Party MPs  (Kaili, Lintzeris, Panariti, V. Papandreou, Merentiti) declared that they are removing their support to the Prime Minister. Mr. Lintzeris' statement was impressive, as he mentioned that Mr. Papandreou "belongs to the past"; on the other hand, Ms. Elena Panariti said that "she is not prepared neither to tolerate nor to support in any way any kind of questioning the European orientation of the country". The criticism has been focused on the personal choice of the Prime Minister to call a referendum, a choice that provoked anger to the Eurozone leaders. At the same time, the suggested alternative is a transitional government, which will secure the "european way" for Greece.

Referendum conduct & what applies to the electorate

By @doleross, translated from Greek by @inflammatory_

Greece's Prime Minister George Papandreou, announced that his country will hold a referendum on the new EU aid package, sparking fierce debate on both its aims and constitutional context. Some facts about the referendum are following below.