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Wednesday, 4 December 2024 | ||
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Athens News Agency: News in English, 09-10-14Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next ArticleFrom: The Athens News Agency at <http://www.ana.gr/>CONTENTS
[01] Unemployment at 9.6 pct in JulyUnemployment in Greece was running at 9.6 percent in July 2009 against 7.0 percent in July 2008 and 8.6 percent in the preceding month of June 2009, according to figures released on Wednesday by the national statistics service ESYE.According to a survey on the active population conducted by ESYE, the number of unemployed in July 2009 stood at 476,707 against 347,935 in July 2008. The highest unemployment rates were recorded in western Macedonia (12.3 percent), central Macedonia (11.3 percent) and Epirus (10.6 percent), while the lowest rates were in the Ionian Islands complex (3.0 percent), the northern Aegean (5.4 percent) and Crete (6.7 percent). By age group, the highest unemployment rates were among the 15-24 year bracket (23.9 percent) and the 25-34 year bracket (12.6 percent). Further, unemployment was higher among women (13.8 percent) than men (6.6 percent). [02] Greece's new parliament sworn inGreece's new 300-member parliament that emerged from the October 4 general elections was sworn-in on Wednesday morning, in a special ceremony in the unicameral House.The swearing-in took place after the traditional blessing, officiated by Archbishop Ieronymos of Athens and All Greece. "I swear in the name of the Holy Consubstantial and Indivisible Trinity to keep faith in my Country and in the democratic form of government, obedience to the Constitution and the laws and to discharge conscientiously my duties," the MPs pledged, with the exception of PASOK MPs Nikos Sifounakis, Maria Damanaki, Spyros Kouvelis and Maya Tsokli, and the MPs of the two Left parties, while the two Muslim deputies elected on the main opposition PASOK party's tickets in Xanthi and Rodopi took a similar oath with their hand on the Koran. The MPs of the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), with the exception Liana Kanelli, did not take a religious oath, while the MPs of the Coalition of the Radical Left (SYRIZA parliamentary alliance) did not attend the religious party of the ceremony. The KKE and SYRIZA parliamentary groups submitted letters to the parliament presidium endorsing a political oath instead of the religious oath, which is set out in the Greek constitution. Ruling PASOK holds 160 seats in the new parliament, followed by main opposition New Democracy (ND) with 91 seats, the KKE with 21 seats, the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) with 15 seats, and SYRIZA with 13 seats. Athens News Agency: News in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article |