Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-02-11

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

CONTENTS

[01] PM to present social security reforms on Friday

[02] Papandreou addresses party committees

[03] KKE leader addresses artists

[01] PM to present social security reforms on Friday

Referring to unions' mobilisations -- a strike is scheduled for Wednesday -- in protest to the planned reforms, alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros said the right to strike is inalienable under the condition that violence is avoided.

Antonaros added that the Greek people recognise the necessity of social security reforms, noting that a relative draft law will be presented in Parliament for approval following an off-the-agenda debate.

He also stressed that reforms constitute a priority, as pledged in the ruling New Democracy's election campaign.

[02] Papandreou addresses party committees

Papandreou linked the issue of former culture ministry secretary general Christos Zachopoulos with the issue of structured bonds, saying that "with the Zachopoulos scandal" they are trying to make us "forget a bigger scandal, such as that of the bonds."

The PASOK leader said "there is a scandal at the culture ministry".

Papandreou further spoke of "unfair redistribution for the interests of the few" and of "commercialisation of education, social security and health as a result of neo-conservative policy."

He also accused the government of "extravagance" in the public sector that "has amounted to 13 billion euros over the past four years, despite what the prime minister said about saving 10 billion euros." Moreover, he criticised it for "lacking the desire for dialogue, as well as for undermining the social security system with acts of favouritism."

[03] KKE leader addresses artists

Papariga said that the issue is not for the ruling New Democracy (ND) and main opposition PASOK parties to reach the ?minimum election limit only, the issue is for the policy of historic compromise not to be possible, if it cannot be defeated completely politically."

She added that her party's political proposal "calls for the rallying of anti-monopolistic and anti-imperialist forces to build a social and political alliance front that will give meaning and effectiveness to daily struggles, that will provide an impetus for claiming popular power and economy which is incompatible and uncompromising with the existence and actions of monopolies everywhere."

Replying indirectly to the proposal made by the Coalition of the Left, Movements and Ecology party's congress, Papariga said that "what is necessary is not the alternative governance proposal for differentiations and manoeuvres at management level, but the alternative power proposal that is based on the level of the economy and of society in its entirety."

Papariga noted that an alternative governance proposal "can also be found without the monopolies losing even one euro from their profits, without even one commitment towards imperialist unions and lion-style agreements with the U.S. being questioned."

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