Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 12-05-17

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

CONTENTS

[01] Latest opinion poll keeps ND in first place

[02] Greece needs extension of fiscal goal timetable, IOBE says‏

[03] Migrant smuggling arrests in Evros

[01] Latest opinion poll keeps ND in first place

According to an opinion poll conducted by the Marc firm, commissioned by the Athens-based television station Alpha, ND garners 23.1 pct of voters' preferences, followed by SYRIZA with 21 pct. amna

PASOK increases its percentage -- if compared to May 6 election results -- to 13.2 pct, the Independent Greeks party records loses with 7.2 pct, followed by Democratic Left (DIM.AR) 5.6 pct and the Communist Party (KKE), which also records loses, with 5.1 pct, compared with May 6.

The opinion poll shows that the ultra-nationalist Chryssi Avgi (Golden Dawn party) will be represented in the next Parliament, but with a smaller percentage of 4.3 pct. The rest of the smaller parties will not enter Parliament, if the poll results prove true. www.amna.gr

Based on the undecided and unclear vote, ND receives 26 pct, SYRIZA 23 pct, PASOK 14.9 pct, Independent Greeks 8.1 pct, DIM.AR 6.3 pct, KKE 5.8 pct and Chryssi Avgi 4.8 pct. amna

[02] Greece needs extension of fiscal goal timetable, IOBE says‏

"Without this money Greece will be forced to leave the Eurozone and return to the drachma," IOBE said, stressing that a new currency would be drastically undervalued, pushing lower real wages and pensions, while sharply raising the country's external debt. The country would also face a currency crisis and an inability to import basic goods such as pharmaceuticals, oil, raw materials. Inflation would also rise, fuelled by black market trading because of a lack of basic goods, along with a sharp fall in GDP and an increase in unemployment. amna

IOBE noted, however, that the mixture of economic policy followed so far was not the right one, as the fiscal policy implemented in the country has had an extremely negative effect on economic activity. The Institute said the Greek government failed to promote the necessary reforms, particularly privatizations, and noted that the country's political leadership also failed to create the necessary climate to help unlock Greek citizens' abilities. IOBE stressed that the troika underestimated the recessionary impact of a fiscal adjustment program, while the Eurozone's prevailing forces made minimizing fiscal deficits the top priority. www.amna.gr

IOBE said the next Greek government should reconfirm its will, and the people's will, for Greece to remain in the Eurozone and recommend an extension of a goal to further reduce fiscal deficits in order to avoid any deeper recession and larger unemployment.

[03] Migrant smuggling arrests in Evros

Acting on information collected during an investigation, police arrested the two migrant smugglers shortly after they crossed Evros River with plastic dinghies carrying 33 illegal migrants, 32 from Bangladesh and one from India.

Since the beginning of the year, a total of 56 migrant smugglers have been arrested by Alexandroupolis-area police. amna.gr

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