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Athens News Agency: News in English, 05-11-06Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] PASOK secretary speaks on local electionsMain opposition PASOK secretary Mariliza Xenoyannakopoulou on Sunday criticised the government's economic policy adding that, with respect to current political developments, Greece was witnessing "a harsh reality" while the people "are facing a difficult winter".She said that PASOK had commenced a "great, victorous course to the people", that it was "forging ahead and building the future". During a press conference in the western port city of Patras, where she was due to attend a meeting of the party's local Municipal Council for an account of prefect Dimitris Katsikopoulos' work and confirmation of his candidacy for re-election in the autumn 2006 local government elections, Xenoyannakopoulou referred at length to the procedures commencing in PASOK for the elections. She said a major political process was beginning with planning and proposals for the local government, adding that the goal was to forge a "different path for local government through a reformist plan, and to liberate the developmental forces". Xenoyannakopoulou said that democratic procedures would be followed in selecting the candidates for mayor and prefect that PASOK would back, with the acceptance of the local societies. As for the major cities, the decisions wuld be taken by the Electoral Procedures Committee "due to their special political importance". [02] Coalition selects A. Tsipras for Athens mayorshipThe Central Political Committee of the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party decided with a big majority on Sunday to back the candidacy of Alexis Tsipras for the mayorship of Athens during local elections due to take place in October next year.At the same time it rejected the decision by the Prefectural Committee of the First Athens constituency which supported the candidacy of Mihalis Papayiannakis. In other ballots held, the Central Political Committee decided to support the candidacies of T. Kourakis in Thessaloniki, Macedonia, and Th. Dritsas in Piraeus. The candidacy of Tsipras received 68 votes, while seven abstained. Earlier, party leader Alekos Alavanos said that the discussion at the Central Political Committee was very good, despite tension and referred to the "problems" faced by the party's leader when he is called upon to manage views and proposals. Alavanos supported his proposal for the candidacy of Tsipras, adding that the president's role is not only to "express the majority but also to sow seeds". He also proposed a public dialogue on the party's candidate for the post of supraprefect. Alexis Tsipras was born in Athens in 1974 and received a degree in civil engineering from the National Metsovion Polytechnic. In 2004 he was elected a member of the party's Central Political Committee and later on a member of the Political Secretariat responsible for education and youth issues. [03] Kenya's Saina wins 23rd Athens MarathonKenya's James Saina won on Sunday the 23rd Athens Marathon race, covering the classical 42-kilometres distance from the ancient sight of Marathon to the Athens Panathenian stadium in two hours, 16 minuters and four seconds.Second and third places were won by Saina's compatriots Sammy Chemweno in two hours, 16 minutes and 14 seconds and Paul Kanda in two hours, 16 minutes and 57 seconds respectively. Ethiopia's Sisay Measo finished 21st but first among the women contestants in two hours, 38 minutes and 39 seconds. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |