Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-04-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Samaras criticises government, admits ND errors

[02] Greek Press Review

[01] Samaras criticises government, admits ND errors

"ND has admitted all its sins and is getting rid of the dead weight of the past. This is the mandate I was given and this is the mandate I intend to carry out," Samaras said to resounding applause from delegates.

He stressed that ND would work to rebuild people's faith in the party from the beginning again, with the first step in this direction being the election of the party's leader by 800,000 people.

Samaras also stressed that ND would exercise a responsible opposition and not hesitate to clash with the government, especially when this seemed to have no plan for dealing with the crisis, while he held Papandreou personally and fully responsible for the country economic state and for driving Greece into the arms of the IMF.

"The prime minister has not yet understood anything: it is his own government that is faltering, his own government that is being tested, his own government that has brought us here and his own government that drags behind it an admission of complete inability to handle the debt," he stressed.

He also strongly criticised Papandreou's attempt to blame the policies of right-wing governments in Greece and Europe for driving Greece to the IMF:

"He forgets that the socialist governments of Greece more than tripled the country's borrowing, he forgets that PASOK introduce populism in the country, he forgets that he personally promised all things to all people and that he himself first referred to the IMF in order to put a 'gun' on the table but his bluff backfired on Greece and the gun went off in his hands," Samaras added, saying that ND was opposed to resorting to the IMF.

According to Samaras, ND's own governments were guilty of failing to correct the system they had inherited, in which one generation borrowed at the expense of the next.

[02] Greek Press Review

The possible activation of an EU-IMF support mechanism for Greece and its repercussions, the bill on 'semi-outdoor' architectural features and developments within New Democracy were the main front-page items in Athens' dailies on Saturday.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Support mechanism a certitude".

APOGEVMATINI: "5 new changes for 'semi-outdoor' features".

AVRIANI: "No to the IMF. Referendum now so that the people can decide".

AVGHI: "The IMF is here, united, strong [mimics classic PASOK campaign slogan]".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Greece....the ungrateful".

ELEFTHEROS: "IMF intrusion to change our lives for the worse".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "[Papandreou] seeking an alibi for the 'crime' of the IMF".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Groundwork for recourse [to IMF] being laid step by step but...'Psycho' starring the IMF".

ESTIA: "This is what the IMF report said".

ETHNOS: "Bargaining for time and money. The background before the support mechanism is activated".

IMERISSIA: "IMF shows its cards at the 11th hour of negotiations. This is how we will lend".

KATHIMERINI: "Sterile controversy in the shadow of the IMF".

LOGOS: "The IMF is already here...[Prime Minister] George Papandreou stated."

NAFTEMPORIKI: "Greece under the supervision of the IMF also".

NIKI: "Government and PASKE (trade union group affiliated with the ruling PASOK party) getting a divorce".

PRESS TIME: "IMF: Greece is saved, Greeks are impoverished. Tsunami of new measures".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Universal popular front for social insurance, working-class incomes, jobs".

TA NEA: "Blood and tears. New measures here and now".

TO VIMA: "Fasts for all using an IMF recipe".

VRADYNI: "George Papandreou: ND to blame for the IMF. Antonis Samaras: don't look for excuses".

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