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Tuesday, 26 November 2024
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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-01-07Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Meimarakis interview to ANA-MPA ahead of Sunday's 2nd round ND leadership election"The policy followed by (ruling) SYRIZA results in disharmony and is alienating its political base in society," main opposition New Democracy party contender Vangelis Meimarakis said on Thursday, in an interview with the ANA-MPA.Meimarakis, who stepped down as party president ahead of the internal leadership election but who led the conservative party in the September 2015 general election, also forecast that while the SYRIZA government's policies will create tension vis-à-vis its own supporters, it will not affect its Parliamentary majority. The former minister in several ND governments and one-time Parliament president also forecast that controversial draft bills – i.e. pending pension reform – will be ratified by Parliament, "given that I see that there are several willing parties (outside SYRIZA) that do not want to create a major political issue". Asked about the main opposition's unity amid the often contentious leadership race, he said such unity is not a "political concept, nor an end in itself. And it doesn't help that we're discussing and rehashing this in a way that assumes that there isn't unity." Finally, Meimarakis underlined that New Democracy is the Greek party of moderation and national consensus, and this is exactly the way it will continue under his leadership. Regarding a question over "extremist voices" within the party, he said that "whoever doesn't toe the line in terms of collective decisions by party organs will, by their own volition, find themselves outside the party." Meimarakis faces off with former minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis in the second round of the ND leadership election on Sunday. [02] PM's office welcomes employer support for hike in social insurance contributionsThe government on Thursday welcomed the stance adopted by employer associations regarding the possibility of a hike in social insurance contributions in order to better support the ailing pension system, in an announcement issued by the prime minister's press office.The announcement noted that a meeting between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the heads of the four largest employers' groups had been held in a positive and constructive climate, with the employers will to discuss a modest increase in contributions to avoid pension cuts. [03] Stage and screen actress Anna Synodinou passes awayVeteran Greek actress and politician Anna Synodinou, a veteran thespian in the country who also posted a brief but notable career in film and television, died on Thursday at the age of 89.She was elected to the Greek Parliament in 1974 with the New Democracy party and served a term as deputy minister for social services until 1981. Her funeral will be held on Monday at the Vironas cemetery in east Athens. Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos expressed his condolences to Synodinou's family, while messages of condolence were sent by the prime minister and all the political party leaders. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |
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