Athens News Agency: News in English, 10-05-30

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

CONTENTS

[01] ND votes for new local leaders

[02] Drug arrests

[03] 29th Thessaloniki Book Fair opens to public

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

[01] ND votes for new local leaders

ND leader Antonis Samaras, who cast his vote at a polling station in Athens' northern suburb of Kifisia, spoke of a large and bold overture to society, stressing that ND is the only party that has proceeded with such procedures.

"Since ND decided to open up and take recourse in society for the election of its leader (in November 2009) and, following that, the leader of its youth organisation ONNED, today it is electing the chairman of every prefectural and local committee. It is a big day, and we are proud to be the only party that has proceeded to such process of making an overture to the Greek society," Samaras said after voting.

The elections are for the new local organisations' councils and the chairmen of the Prefectural Organisations of the party, and polling stations have been set up at party offices throughout the country, in local government offices and labor centers. Eligible to vote are all registered ND members, including those who had registered for and voted in the internal elections for the new party leader on November 29. It was the first time that the ND leader was elected directly by the party's grass roots, as voting for the ND leader was extended to all of the party's registered voters. In that election, Samaras became the new party leader, taking over from former prime minister Costas Karamanlis, who resigned the post after ND's defeat in the preceding general elections.

[02] Drug arrests

According to police, the illegal migrants squad arrested a 35-year-old foreign national along the Kozani-Larissa stretch of the national highway after a spot check of his car revealed two satchels containing 35.645 kilos of cannabis in 35 plastic packets.

During questioning, the detainee confessed that another 39-year-old fellow national in a car ahead of him was acting as a look-out and facilitating the transportation of the drug. The accomplice was arrested later after a chase.

Both suspects will appear before a Kozani prosecutor.

[03] 29th Thessaloniki Book Fair opens to public

The annual event is organised by the Publishers' Association of Northern Greece.

This year, the Fair is dedicated to the 90th anniversary of the birth of the late actress and culture minister Melina Mercouri, who founded the event.

The Fair will run through June 13.

[04] Athens Newspaper Headlines

ADESMEFTOS TYPOS: "2.5 billion euros breather for the market - The Guarantee Fund for Small and Micro Businesses (TEMPME SA) opens its purse strings".

APOGEVMATINI: "Complete reversal of labor relations".

AVGHI: "The Left an embankment against political corruption and political 'desertification'."

AVRIANI: "Simitis (PASOK former prime minister) fears the parliamentary fact-finding commission (on the Siemens scandal)".

CHORA: "End to the 'asylum' of prime ministers - Green light from Papandreou and Samaras".

ELEFTHEROS TYPOS: "Simitis 'bomb' in Papandreou's hands - The 'controlled catharsis' plan derailed after Mantelis' shocking admission".

ELEFTHEROTYPIA: "Ministers implicated in graft - Siemens: relations of 9 top PASOK and ND officials with the slush funds being investigated".

ETHNOS: "Invasion of IMF inspectors in ministries and banks - Tens of inspectors coming with...reshuffle in their luggage".

KATHIMERINI: "Explosive combination of incompetence and corruption - Mantelis' cynical admission rocks the political system".

LOGOS: "New social security system brings reductions to pensions of up to 30 percent - To be tabled in parliament in the coming days".

NIKI: "Burning answers on the new social security system".

RIZOSPASTIS: "Seamen on strike on Monday against the government, the EU and shipowners - The lifting of the cabotage restrictions is at the expense of all the people".

TO VIMA: "The huge anger brings political earthquake - 8.5 billion euros in kickbacks passed through Mantelis' hands".

VRADYNI: "Pensions: By how much they will be reduced".

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