Making the world safe for Gucci

The press here in Thessaloniki has been full of stories on the recent clamp down on crime. According to the Greek national daily newspaper Kathimerini, the authorities carried out 1912 checks, reported 386 violations and made 67 arrests. I happened to be in town at the time and as far as I can tell the police's efforts seemed to be once again a "round up the usual suspects" affair in which the plain clothes and uniformed officers chased the African street vendors who sell knock-off bags and other accesssories in the centre.

In the meantime last night thieves attempted to steal a ATM located inside the Praktiker DIY super store by throwing a hand grenade at it, two large stores were attacked midday in the centre, a bank was firebombed in Euosmos and the body of a young woman was found floating in the harbour.

I think we're moving more and more towards a model of law and order that befits a banana republic in which the kind of crime that affects ordinary people is met with indifference and incompetence but in which public order offenses get the lion share of police time and resources. Perhaps this government is, in fact despite its chronic inability to plan more than five minutes ahead, getting ready for the future, knowing full well that there is going to be massive resistance to the inevitable cuts in public services and that the rich are going to be more and more the target of protests as times get harder.

According to the Kathemerini and Eleutherotypia the government is planning to double the number of riot police.In addition the Athens police authorities are creating rapid response teams to police the upscale shopping districts in the centre of the capital even while crime rates in the rest of the city are going through the roof.

The present conservative New Democracy administration cannot fund a US style New Deal because they have already borrowed heavily and even more recklessly lied about financial fundamentals such as the extent of the country's debt load and growth projection to such an extent that the government's macro - economic data is now considered unreliable by EU auditors and potential creditors. The result is that future loans can only be secured at cripplingly high interest rates and that the government will have no alternative but to sell off public assets and cut spending. Both of which will lead to massive public unrest.

Hence the increase in riot police units.

On the other hand, it is comforting knowing that in a world beset by crisis and mayhem the market for high end Italian accessories remains safe under the vigilant eye of the authorities.

Greek government fights for its political life

Latest opinion poll results show that nearly half of Greek voters believe that neither of the country’s two major political parties is capable of governing. The ruling right - wing New Democracy was given an approval rating of just 16% whilst the opposition centre left PASOK party polled just 17%.

The results underline the massive lack of trust in the present political system which has been exacerbated by the recent economic downturn, a series of high profile corruption scandals and the wave of violent confontations which swept Greece In December and January.

This week doctors and other health care officials took industrial action for 48 hours in order to protest the chronic staff and equipment shortages that have plagued the public health care system for years.

A senior doctor at a hospital in Thessaloniki, Greece’s second city, speaking on condition of anonymity said that his department had just a third of the nurses required. In addition lack of staff means that Greek hospitals are regularly demanding doctors work more than the European Union mandated limit of 48 hours a week.

There have also been complaints over shortages of basic supplies such as bandages and medicine in many hospitals caused by cuts in funding by the Ministry of Health and massive delays in paying medical suppliers for previous orders.

The death of a 58 year old man this week in a ambulance taking him to hospital in Thessaloniki sparked off a political row when it came out that the man died as paramedics were unable to revive him following a heart attack as their resuscitator was missing parts. Although a coroner's report said that the death was unrelated to the heart attack, doctors who treated the man are adamant he could have been saved if the ambulance's equipment had been in working order.

The strike action is just one of a series of protests which has seen the government pitched against students, farmers, cleaners and even police officers.


Whilst the riots and street clashes that were sparked off by the killing of a teenager in December have faded from the world’s TV screens violent confrontations have continued albeit on a smaller scale.

Last week Thessaloniki saw riots in which 500 - 1000 demonstrators attacked the city’s central police station and take part in running street battles for hours. In addition there were 17 arson attacks on Friday by a revolutionary organisation calling itself the Conspiracy of the Cores of Fire.

Even more violent have been the armed attacks on police stations in Athens which left one police officer seriously injured after being shot while standing guard outside the Ministry of Culture signalling a rekindling of terrorism in the country.

Political and economic woes have added to calls for national elections by many unhappy with the government’s handling of a wide range of everyday issues such as employment, education and law enforcement.

Currently, Prime minister Kostas Karamanlis has just a slim one seat majority in parliament and is facing a series of clashes within his own cabinet as ministers manouever to position themselves for the possibility of national elections and a subsequent leadership battle.

Greek government walks out of parliament

With a parliamentary majority of just one the ruling New Democracy party of Kostas Karamanlis is fighting for its political life amidst scandal, economic downturn and growing popular dissatisfaction with the Greek government’s track record on a range of issues.

Today at 6pm (local time) the government faces a vote on whether to allow to a parliamentary investigation into the most recent in a string of scandals to hit the country. Despite vigourous denials of any wrong the entire ruling New Democracy parliamentary body has decided to abstain from this evening’s vote.

The latest scandal to rock the present administration claimed its most recent victim yesterday when Minister of State and the government public spokesman, Theodoros Rousopoulos resigned over alleged involvement in the Vatopedi land swap case. Bowing to intense political pressure from opposition parties Rousopoulos stood down from his post. However, he denied any wrongdoing and attributed his fall to baseless and unfair accusations by the left - wing PASOK party.

The Vatopedi case came to lighty earlier this year when the 1000 year old Greek Orthodox monastery attempted to exchange Lake Vastonidi, which was originally designated a wildlife reserve for a 40 million dollar conference facility in Athens, built with tax payer’s money for the 2004 Olympic games.

The high profile deal triggered a series of investigations in the Greek press over the terms of the purchase and the highly irregular way in which the lake had been obtained from the Greek state.

Since then there have been a series of embarrasing revelations in the media over connections between high ranking members of the current conservative government and the Vatopedi monastery bringing to light the shadowy, often tangled web of financial and political interests that link the Greek state and Greek Orthodox church.

The vote and resignation of one of the prime minister’s closest political associates weakens still further the government’s chances of seeing out the rest of its second term in power. Repeated clashes with trade unions over pension reforms, hundreds of high school sit-ins nationwide and plummeting opinion poll results point to the mounting unhappiness many ordinary Greeks feel at the inability of the New Democracy government to fulfil its electoral pledges to improve basic services and deal with the with endemic corruption marks much of public life.

NowPublic

Tags: Greece | scandal | World | Kostas Karamanlis | vatopedi | greek parliament | theodoros roussopoulos

Monk's monkey business threatens to topple Greek government

For most world leaders the events of the previous weeks have been a source of worry and concern. However, for Kostas Karamanlis, the leader of Greece’s ruling New Democracy conservatives the economic crisis has provided a welcome relief from the constant critical attention by the nation's media.

Despite winning re - election just 13 months ago Greece’s conservatives have struggled to keep to their political agenda amidst a seemingly endless stream of finance and influence peddling scandals. Yet, for Greek voters the latest scandal may be just one too many, especially as it involves allegations of improper dealings at the very highest echelons of government.

The latest controversy revolves around the attempts by the Greek Orthodox monastery of Vatopedi to aquire a 40 million euro conference facility in Athens earlier this year. In exchange for the facility ,which was built as part of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, the monastery offered Lake Vistonida, a protected wildlife reserve in northern Greece in exchange.

The high profile sale triggered an investigation by local media into the deal which has produced a series of long list of legal irregularities and a disturbing pattern of corruption in which the monks were given large tracts of land under what can best be described as dubious circumstances. The fact that the church then tried to sell back to the Greek state the land which it had recently been given has served to inflame popular anger against the government.

Even the usually high esteem in which the Greek Orthodox church is held in this deeply religious Balkan nation has been affected. The role of the Abbot Efraim, leader of the Vatopedi monastery and his connection with leading members of parliament, including government spokesman, Theodoros Rousopoulos has drawn the ire of many politicians and commentators across the political spectrum.

In addition the case has, according to many in the Greek media brought to light the complex web of patron-client relationships that link the Greek state and the Orthodox church.

The two public prosecutors, Ilias Koliousis and Eleni Sotiropoulou assigned to investigate the case resigned yesterday due to what they term political intervention by the government. In their letter of resignation they said that their investigation had uncovered evidence that implicated two deputy ministers in the case which is alleged to have cost taxpayers up to 100 million euros.

The dramatic developments in the Vatopedi case have merely added to the growing sense of distrust the many ordinary Greeks feel towards the New Democracy administration. The change in mood has been reflected in the steady drop of the party in recent opinion polls, triggering talk of possible elections.

According to the opposition left-wing PASOK party the current scandal is merely the 45th to come to light during the government’s 54 months in power. It should be noted that despite numerous accusations of corruption, bribery and abuse of power there has not been a single arrest or conviction of a member of the ruling conservative party.

Given the government's narrow one - seat majority and growing unrest over worsening economic conditions the chances that New Democracy will see out its second term seem slim.

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Tags: Greece | World | MONASTERY | Efraim | New Democracy | Kostas Karamanlis | greek politics | vatopedi

Crass publicity stunt

Crass publicity stunt, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Μια προταση της Ν.Δ για την τεχνιτη αναδασωση.

Just when I thought that things couldn't get worse in the election campaign I saw this sight, just outside a New Democracy electoral centre on Tsimiski. Obviously, it's is not enough to fail abysmally to have dealt with this summer's forest fires which left 67 dead and million of hectares of devastation. The ruling party has to rub our noses in their particular mess with this incredibly crass attempt at "reforestation". Last night these trees suddenly appeared outside one of their offices. Words fail me.

"Stupid is as stupid does."

The last tree

The last tree, originally uploaded by Teacher Dude's BBQ.

Μια προταση της Ν.Δ για την τεχνιτη αναδασωση.

Just when I thought that things couldn't get worse in the election campaign I saw this sight, just outside a New Democracy electoral centre on Tsimiski. Obviously, it's is not enough to fail abysmally to have dealt with this summer's forest fires which left 67 dead and million of hectares of devastation. The ruling party has to rub our noses in their particular mess with this incredibly crass attempt at "reforestation". Last night these trees suddenly appeared outside one of their offices. Words fail me.

"When the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten and the last stream poisoned, you will realize that you cannot eat money."

Cree prophesy

Tragedy slips into farce

Photo by Onironautis

I know many people, especially those whose with heightened environmental sensitivities who have turned off their TVs. They cannot bear to see the terrible images of destruction that are flooding the screens here in Greece. Their grief is such that they cannot take any more. For four days we have seen half the country burn while the authorities seem to be helpless to bring the situation under control.

Sadly, the predictions I made yesterday are becoming reality even more quickly than even I could have imagined. The fact that the national elections are almost upon seems to have degraded the level of political debate even further. People are dying, homes are being lost and huge swathes of Greece are still burning while Nikitis Kaklamanis, mayor of Athens, screams about an "asymmetrical threat" (ασυμμετρικη απειλη), a freshly coined term for terrorism.

In doing so he reminds me of the incredibly cynical spin attempt by the Spanish prime minister, Aznar, who rushed to put the blame for the Madrid train bombings on ETA in order to gain votes on the eve of the national elections. A trick that he paid for dearly at the polls when the truth came out. Hell, even I didn't buy into his explanation and I'm no expert on terrorism.

While the fires have certainly been started in part by arsonist, pyromaniacs and the like, the fact that the authorities have failed miserably to deal with them, be they the result of malicious action, indifference or plain stupidity is testament to the fact that the present government, as the previous ones before it, have not taken the problem of forest fires seriously.

To say that this disaster is the result of some organised terrorist action is a amoral attempt by the New Democracy government to deflect criticism about its role in this catastrophe. I really hope it bites them in the ass in the elections.