Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-09-20

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

CONTENTS

[01] Papandreou: Rekindling economy the main goal

[02] ND unveils state deputy ticket

[03] LAOS leader in Katerini

[04] Greek Press Review

[01] Papandreou: Rekindling economy the main goal

Outlining the general framework of the economic policy he intends to follow, he stressed that PASOK had not intention of hiding the facts about the economy from voters.

"We will not conceal the truth about the state of the country; not so that we can cast the blame on anyone but so that the Greek people can understand what space we have to manoeuvre," he said.

Papandreou stated that supporing and facilitating enterprise would be one of the top priorities, "so that a business can be founded in as little as a single day" and revealed plans for a separate finance ministry led by a "person capable of making changes that begin with fighting corruption up to the redistribution of wealth".

Regarding policy on utilities and privatisations, Papandreou said he would exhaust every margin in order to restore state control over telecommunications and said that he was in favour of a mixed configuration using public and private capital for Olympic Airways, with a strategic alliance with a foreign air carrier.

In the banking system, he called for an "active" state presence to ensure healthy competition and stability.

"We are not statists but we want to be able to decide national strategies," PASOK's leader underlined.

Papandreou also promised a tougher stance against corruption and promised to pass a new election law that would "cut at the heart" of illegal party funding, with new rules for financing parties and stricter control of means and assets statements.

On foreign policy, Papandreou said that Greece did not belong to either the East, West, North or South but had multilateral relations with all sides.

Regarding the Burgas-Alexandroupolis oil pipeline, he said PASOK would strive to see this carried out but would also negotiate "constructively" in order to secure the best possible terms for Greece.

Papandreou ended by promising to run a "tight ship" if elected, with a strong premier's office coordinating the government's work and fast decision-making. He also warned that he would not tolerate people pursuing personal strategies within his party.

"PASOK will never become a federation of semi-independent fiefdoms. All those thinking in terms of personal strategy and planning to grab some small part of power in order to turn this into an autonomous barony have got the wrong address," he emphasised.

[02] ND unveils state deputy ticket

At the head of the list is veteran politician and current environment minister George Souflias, followed by Parliament President Dimitris Sioufas, interior minister general secretary Evgenia Tsoumani-Spentza, president of the European Institute of Law, Science and Technology and a specialist in climate change issues Dionysia-Theodora Avgerinopoulou, current government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros, professor of constitutional law Ismini Kriari, professor of economics Panagiotis Liargovas, professor of law and education ministry general secretary Niki Gotzopoulou, SAE member Costas Dimitriou, professor of law Ioanna Kalatzakou-Tsatsaroni and general secretary for consumers Ioannis Economou.

The 12th 'honorary' position on the list has been given to former New Democracy president Miltiades Evert, in accordance to the latter's request in a letter to Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis that was revealed by sources on Saturday.

In the letter, Evert turned down a proposal made by the premier and asked to be placed in the last position on the list, where he is essentially guaranteed not to get elected to Parliament, citing a desire to contribute to the party's renewal after a long career in politics.

The state deputy seats won by each party in the elections are filled according to the order that the candidates appear on the ticket.

[03] LAOS leader in Katerini

During his speech, he said his party wanted to elect at least 15 MPs to Parliament and noted that major foreign policy issues were essentially absent from the policy platforms presented by both the main parties, ruling New Democracy and main opposition PASOK.

Karatzaferis was particularly critical of Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis and the fact that he spurned the offer for cooperation with LAOS, saying that this had created a "single faction with two parties, one of them rising and the other collapsing". He also accused Karamanlis of essentially handing power over to PASOK through his choices.

"Karamanlis is making George Papandreou prime minister, given that Papandreou does not have the strength on his own to lead his party to a majority government. The question in these elections is who will mount the strongest opposition to PASOK the following day? ND or Karatzaferis?" he said.

During the press conference in Larisa, Karatzaferis said that he had reservations about the format decided for the debate between the party leaders and was not sure whether he would take part. He claimed that the set up of two debates was unfair to the smaller parties, since the public's interest would naturally be dominated by the debate between the two main party leaders the following night.

[04] Greek Press Review

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "Karamanlis' Greece"

APOGEVMATINI: "I believe in victory. Exclusive interview with Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis"

AVGI: "SYRIZA. The Left is a necessity"

AVRIANI: "Humiliating handover of power by New Democracy through a mass desertion from the election battle"

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Suits and weeping veils. On a trajectory for the day after. Rehearsals for ministerial posts in PASOK. Preparedness for the post-Karamanlis era in ND"

ETHNOS: "The first 8 reforms in the state, economy, environment. George [Papandreou's] staff finalise the 100-day programme"

EPOCHI (weekly): "The strong presence of the Radical Left of vital importance for society. SYRIZA. In and out of Parliament"

FREE SUNDAY (weekly): "Battle for the following day"

KATHIMERINI: "George Papandreou: "I won't put up with fiefdoms"

LOGOS: "Karamanlis plays his last 'cards'. He's pinning his hopes on the debates and a last-minute rallying of ND voters"

NIKI: "Muzzle for the Cassandras. 'No' to the complacency of opinion poll pundits and 'blue parrots'"

PARON (weekly): "While PASOK presses full-speed ahead for a Parliament majority, they're in a hurry to give up".

PROTO THEMA (weekly): "PASOK 'writes off' debts to banks".

REAL NEWS (weekly):"The music has begun! Behind-the-scenes jostling for succession in ND on the eve of the elections".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Interview with the General Secretary of KKE's Central Committee. Torpedo to social insurance after the elections, either with ND or with PASOK".

VIMA: "Secret war within ND for Karamanlis' successor. With guns at the ready the 'heirs' await the defeat".

VRADYNI: "Karamanlis reversing the climate in the debate. He's banking on his responsible profile and credibility".

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