The revised privatizations programme

By @galaxyarchis, translated by @Krotkie

Five months after the freezing of the privatizations programme, and mainly further to zero results of the Development and Privatization of public property Fund (TAIPED), the file is back with great intensity. Privatizations are coming back to the new government's (New Democracy-PASOK-Democratic Left) agenda, which is evident in the Prime Minister's, Antonis Samaras, first speech.

The five-year (2011-15) program of privatization of Utilities Services and utilization of public property, was adjusted in early 2012, with the expectation of  gains of around 3.2 billion euros. Nevertheles, only two privatizations will be finalised by the end of 2012, the rest of them being postponed to 2013, when the programme will be accelerated with the target of gains will be set of 7,4 bns for the two years together.

Pogrom against Pakistanis at Nikaia

Translated by @iptamenos33

New attacks by extreme-right wing groups against Pakistanis took place last Friday and Saturday night in Nikaia (Piraeus suburb). After the threats and the ultimatums that were distributed amongst Pakistani shop owners by groups of the extreme right –Golden Dawn –according to eyewitnesses- and after the anti-racism demonstration of last Thursday, the racist groups struck again.

Human Rights Group rings alarm bell for HIV Positive women held in prison

By @zoemavroudi

“Their lives are in danger.” Human Rights Group rings alarm bell for HIV Positive women held in prison for alleged threat to public health

On April 29 2012, shortly before the Greek May 6 election, dozens of women allegedly working illegally as sex workers were rounded up and taken into custody by Greek police in Athens. Rapid HIV testing was performed on them by Greek authorities at police stations where they were told they were being led for identification purposes. They were subsequently diagnosed HIV positive and were charged with “the intention of causing heavy bodily harm” while photographs of 17 of them at first, were published on the official Greek police website.

The case has caused uproar both in Greece and internationally for what human rights groups have called a clear violation of international laws for the protection from the deprivation of one’s freedom, right to consent to medical testing and medical confidentiality.

Media stirring up national pride over Germany-Greece soccer match

By @inflammatory_

Football is one of the remaining spheres in which it is acceptable to openly display patriotic sentiment. This seems to apply in every country. The relationship between football and nationhood was shaped by particular historical and cultural factors. There might be different perceptions among people of how direct this association is, but those with far-right political affiliations apparently find it it easier to project symbolic meanings of Greek pride on a team of players that represents the nation in a game. Georgios Papadopoulos, one of the military dictatorship's architects back in the 70's, encouraged people to watch football whilst he imposed severe constraints in civil liberties. That says a lot about how to channel outrage on a safe outlet.

In view of the historical coincidence between eurozone crisis and the advent of Euro 2012 football championship, media evoked national pride for Friday's quarter-final, fueling Greeks' sentiment as they were admittedly looking forward to watching the game on telly. Even journalist Vivi Draka dared to appear on State TV with a face paint of  the Greek flag. A soccer game suddenly came to have political connotations, with the punishing anti-austerity message having its moment again, spreading from election results to the football grass field. Despite Greek team's defeat, national pride remained intact as efforts were largely appreciated by the public. Maybe the real winners were those lucky few immigrants that were not bashed by violent xenophobic nationalists as a demonstration of strength and dominance.

Declaration of the Government of National Responsibility

Original post by @doleross, translated by @IrateGreek

The following text is the "Declaration of the Government of National Responsibility" - in other words the programmatic framework to which the three parties participating in the government coalition (New Democracy, PASOK & Democratic Left) agreed.

The government of national responsibility which is created with the support of the three parties (New Democracy, PASOK and Democratic Left) will have full powers and the time frame stipulated by the Constitution. Its goals are to face the crisis, to pave the way for development and to revise conditions set in the loan agreement (memorandum) without endangering the European path of the country and its remaining in the eurozone. And, of course, without casting doubts on the self-evident goals of zeroing the fiscal deficit, putting the debt under control and implementing the structural reforms the country needs. 

A further goal is to create the conditions for the country to rid itself of the crisis for good, as well as the dependence on loan agreements in the future. The new government of national responsibility will smaller, with a perspective of shinking even further, and it is meant to be functional and executive. 

It will not be constituted of fiefdoms influenced by parties, it will function with unity, it will be based on transparency, on the programmatic agreements of the parties that support it and on the staffing of the administrative mechanisms on the basis of merit.  

Furthermore, it will be founded on flexibility, in order to avoid that disagreements on specific topics impede its work or the consensus that is needed for its work to continue. 

Finally, the new government and the chair of the Parliament will take the initiative to change the Parliament's regulations in order for legislative practices and parliamentary control to adapt to the new conditions of coalition governments. This will also upgrade the role of the House. 

Urgent meeting in PASOK headquarters

Edit: alterthess.gr Translation: inflammatory_

In light of recent developments, Venizelos invited his close aides for a meeting to make final decisions of critical importance regarding the broader efforts to form a new government. A. Loverdos, M. Chrisochoidis, A. Diamantopoulou, K. Scandalidis, P. Efthimiou, M. Androulakis and F. Gennimata will join. 
The topics under discussion include everything raised by Samaras and Kouvelis (Democratic Left) to the Head of PASOK, who attempts to bring on board Kouvelis' argument against the aspect where Loverdos and Chrisochoidis would be appointed of ministerial posts they used to hold during previous government.
Everything shows though that PASOK members will join a coalition. 

LIVE BLOG on Greek elections, June 17

By @inflammatory_

01:50 Election Results in a nutshell 
Here's a recap of the day's main highlights

• Check here the latest official updates on election results from Ministry of Interior's webpage.
• As there is no outright winner securing 151 seats, leader of pro-bailout "New Democracy" A. Samaras, will receive a formal mandate from President Karolos Papoulias on Monday morning to form a coalition government. Some members estimate that might get back individual support from ex-comrades who switched to Independent Greeks thus putting its cohesiveness at risk.
• Although physical assaults on left-wing politicians and immigrants made headlines, it seems that neonazi Golden Dawn's voters are engaged with the party's rhetoric and practices.
• Communist Party KKE has hit a record low.
• A few who voted for right-wing anti-bailout Independent Greeks during last elections switched to Syriza and New Democracy, dropping down the party's rating.
• Although left-wing Syriza came second, the party managed to raise the percentage of the vote from 4,6% in 2009 to 27,1% in 2012. Syriza has rejected any coalition with a pro-bailout party.
• PASOK is keen to join forces with New Democracy, Syriza and Democratic Left with Venizelos apparently denying that Syriza's collaboration is a strong prerequisite.