Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-05-25

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From: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>

CONTENTS

[01] KKE leader bashes gov't, PASOK, SYN

[02] Greece takes 3rd in Eurovision contest

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] KKE leader bashes gov't, PASOK, SYN

Speaking on political developments, and in reference to the party's anniversary, Papariga said that the KKE had not signed, nor would sign, a "statement of repentance' to any domestic or international bourgeoisie, adding that "the bourgoise parties make no mistakes, they have a conscious anti-labor, anti-popular, class policy".

She said that neither did the opportunists make mistakes. Rather, the consciously followed a choice "which, if it becomes more widely accepted, leads the movement, with mathematical precision, to the precipice".

Papariga stressed that the renewal of the KKE, just like that of every communist party, cannot be effected through rejection of its revolutionary characteristics, but through its ability to fulill its duties in the class struggle and its ability to promptly predict and interpret the class developments.

Speaking at a rally in Iraklio on Saturday night, Papariga said that the KKE despised "the big and empty words" of ruling New Democracy, but also the "hypocrisy" of main opposition PASOK and Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology (SYN).

She attacked the government, but also PASOK and the SYN-led Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA) parliamentary alliance, adding that an all-front attack was necessary today, a politicalised movement founded on an alliance among workers, farmers, self-employed, which would dispute the political system itself and its servants, with direct goals.

She called for a minimum salary of 1,400 euros, minimum pension of 1,100 euros, an unemployment benefit of 1,120 euros for the entire time an individual remained unemployed, as well as control of food prices and quality, beginning with the production-commercial chains, abolition of VAT on staple goods, heating and vehicle fuel for farmers' households and popular consumption, rent subsidisation for unemployed youths, interest-free home loans for young couples for acquisition of a first home, and suspension of all seizures of property of indebted workers from mortgages on primary and secondary homes.

Caption: KKE leader Aleka Papariga addresses press conference in Iraklio, Crete. (ANA-MPA/M. Pakias)

[02] Greece takes 3rd in Eurovision contest

Greece won third place in the finals of the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade in the early hours of Sunday.

Greece's entry for the competition, which was broadcast live by the state television channel NET, was young Greek-American singer Kalomira with the song "Secret Combination", with music by Constantinos Pantzis and lyrics written by Posidonas Giannopoulos. Greece appeared 21st in a total of 25 countries.

Kalomira was accompanied by backing vocalists Victoria Halkiti and Nektarios Georgiadis and her set included a team of dancers and some impressive stage props designed by Ilias Ledakis. The choreography was designed by Juliano and artistic direction was by Costas Kapetanidis.

Caption: Kalomira of Greece performing at the 2008 Eurovision Song Contest finals in Belgrade. (EPA/T. Valic)

[03] Athens Newspaper Headlines

The nutritional furor surrounding imported sunflower oil contaminated with mineral oil, spiralling prices on the market, political opinion polls, and the economy were the main front-page items in Sunday's newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Slap against profiteering", referring to the ceiling on cooking/table oil retail prices imposed by the development ministry in the wake of the sunflower oil furor.

APOGEVMATINI: "Minimum guaranteed income of 330 euros per month" being mulled by government.

AVGHI: "Mineral oil (on our tables) since 2004".

AVRIANI: "American 'finger' behind the attacks against Folias (development minister)".

CHORA: "Folias counter-attack against high prices - I will pullwill pull the plug on the multinationals - Price regulation (introduction of ceiling retail prices) for list of products on the horizon".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "High prices rocking the political scene".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Two 'tricks' for private AEIs (institutions of higher education)".

ETHNOS: "Nutritional nightmare, with the prime minister's seal".

KATHIMERINI: "Shocking report by (Public Administration) Inspectors on the ESY (National Health System) scandals".

LOGOS: "The petrol alibi fuels price hikes in staple goods".

NIKI: "Gray zones in the government - Karamanlis trapped in the 'friendship' (with Turkey) dogma, which is collapsing".

PROTO THEMA (weekly): "ALCCO opinion poll: Cry of despair from society - 60 percent say that ND demolished everything".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Capital launches all-out attack on working people".

TO VIMA: "The behind-the-scenes of the Apostasy - The Palace, Mitsotakis and the Americans", adding that an interview with the newspaper by former king Constantine will trigger political clashes.

VRADYNI: "Who are toying with our health".

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