Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-06-27

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

CONTENTS

[01] Minor opposition on Siemens affair

[01] Minor opposition on Siemens affair

Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Aleka Papariga on Friday announced her party's backing for the establishment of a Parliamentary fact-finding commission on the Siemens scandal and ?political money? case before an independent judicial investigation is concluded.

Addressing Parliament in an off-the-agenda debate on the high cost of living issue, Papariga stated, in reference to political corruption, that her party is openly against the capitalist system, stressing that KKE will not tolerate any transaction with it.

On the high cost of living, she stated that is does not necessarily stem from the current international situation. The communist political leader expressed a view that responsibility lies with the capitalist-style market system "formed with the help of a political system that praises competition, allowing for kickbacks and the control of the market by a few business groups who monopolize it."

SYRIZA leader

The leader of Parliament-represented Coalition of the Left (SYRIZA), Alekos Alavanos, referred to "corruption and decadence" of the domestic political system, in his address during the off-the-agenda debate in Parliament on Friday.

He stressed that the situation amid the ongoing Siemens political influence and "black money" affair affects the "guilty and innocent", while calling on the prime minister to state when exactly a Parliamentary committee of inquiry will be formed to probe the issue.

Alavanos stressed that both major parties are involved in corruption issues, leaving the citizens to listen to different scenarios concerning their parties' members, while the press are disseminating "rumors expressed by charlatans and individuals that do not have any evidence of their claims."

On the cost of living issue for which the debate was called, Alavanos said the country has hit rock bottom and that "hunger has reappeared". He also said government's measures are 'fairy tales and alchemies'.

"We are watching the government ... bring outdated recipes. We act like (Boris) Yeltsin and the other countries that collapsed by giving away everything. Our country is affected severely because it tolerated profiteering, cartels and groups that oppress the people," he concluded.

LA.OS leader on Siemens case

Popular Orthodox Rally (LA.OS) party leader George Karatzaferis, speaking during the off-the-agenda debate on the high cost of living, referred to involvement and responsibilities of both major parties in the ongoing and heated Siemens furor.

He also repeated his charge of participation by the "a (ruling) New Democracy prime minister's son in (Siemens') board of directors."

The LA.OS president, a former ND deputy, rejected the idea of establishing a Parliamentary fact-finding committee, charging that it "will not uncover the truth", but instead calling for the establishment of an investigation.

Finally, he called for a revision in the law regarding ministers' criminal liabilities while in office.

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