Athens News Agency: News in English, 08-02-06

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

CONTENTS

[01] Election of Archbishop on Thu.

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] Election of Archbishop on Thu.

The four hierarchs who have declared candidacy are Metropolitans Ieronymos of Thebes, Efstathios of Sparta, Anthimoes of Thessaloniki, and Ignatios of Dimitriada.

The election will take place in a single undisrupted session of the Holy Synod at Athens' Metropolitan Cathedral, attended by the Education and Religious Affairs minister. A quorum is required, which is designated by the Church's charter and Law 590/77 at two-thirds of the acting Metropolitans, and a maximum of three rounds of voting may be held.

A Holy Liturgy will be held at the Metropolitan Cathedral early Thursday morning, and at 9:00 a.m. the gates of the Cathedral will close in order for the process to commence, first with a prayer, followed by a count to ascertain whether a quorum is present.

The Hierarchs will then cast their votes in a ballot box, in the presence of a three-member monitoring committee which, together with the minister, will seal the ballot box at the end of the voting.

The candidate receiving the absolute majority (50 percent +1) of the votes is elected Archbishop.

In the event that an absolute majority is not amassed by one of the candidates, a second round will be held again requiring an absolute majority.

In the event that no candidate again amasses the required absolute majority, a third round will be held, this time requiring only a simple majority of the votes.

In the case of a tie in the third round, the Archbishop is chosen in a draw.

[02] Athens Newspaper Headlines

Social security reforms, the Siemens case, the election on Thursday of a new Archbishop of Athens and All Greece and a law tabled by the Justice Ministry for the conversion of active and passive bribery from a misdemenor to a felony dominated the headlines on Wednesday in Athens' newspapers.

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Graft in the public sector from now on is a felony - At last, drastic measures".

APOGEVMATINI: "8,770 new hirings in public sector - Tenured and seasonal personnel".

AVGHI: "Government gives 912 million euros to shut down national aircarrier Olympic Airways (OA) - Development Minister released an actuarial study on the OA issue".

AVRIANI: "Ruling party New Democracy and main opposition PASOK must stop the prosecutor responsible for Siemens case in order to avoid humiliation before people's eyes" - They must expel Ministers and cadres who took money under the table".

CHORA: "Graft's maypole - PASOK's former Ministers point the finger at one another"

ETHNOS: "New development in social security reforms issue - First rift in government just before the final reforms".

ELEFTHERI ORA: "Metropolitans of Thessaloniki and Dimitriada will be the regulators of Thursday's election of a New Archbishop - Metropolitan of Sparta is leading in the succession course"

ELEFTHEROS: "Deputy Minister's bomb over Development Minister Fani Palli-Petralia - Deep rift in government on social security reforms issue".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Souflias' (Enviroment, Town Planning and Public Works Minister) rift on social security reforms - By the time the government is ready to advance the merging of social security funds, Souflias expressed doubts via representative (Deputy Minister)".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Fiefdoms over social security reforms - Nagging in ND, and every Minister tries to protect his affiliates."

ESTIA: " The country prisoner of the guilds - The gutless government simply watches on."

KATHIMERINI: "U.S proposal for a dual name on FYROM issue - Dual name in relations with Greece and Organisations."

LOGOS: " Fracture in the hierachy on the eve of election - Two trisagion services for the late Archbishop".

NIKI: "Red alert in PASOK - They're search for the reasons of the party's plunge in popularity".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Popular counterattack against social security reforms attack - All together in the 13 February strike".

TA NEA: "Souflias demolishes social security reforms plan -He opposes merging of funds".

TO VIMA: "Parties in a boiling pot - Corrosion brings tension - Dispute in ND - Agony in PASOK - Leftist parties' expectations".

VRADYNI: "Bribery is a felony - Strict law for public servants who breach their trust."

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