Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-10-14

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

CONTENTS

[01] MPs must be free to adopt 'mature, political' positions on President's election, Skourletis says

[02] Greece reports 2.5 bln euros primary surplus in Jan-Sept‏

[01] MPs must be free to adopt 'mature, political' positions on President's election, Skourletis says

Skourletis noted that deputies should bear in mind the national statistical authority's poverty data and decide whether they want to give Prime Minister Antonis Samaras' government the green light to continue the same policy that has led us to that situation.

Asked about his statements during a television broadcast, where he presented a report according to which lawmakers have been bribed ahead of the presidential elections, Skourletis stated: "I referred to a specific report although this is not the only one. There has been another report that implies such practices on behalf of the government... I am impressed by the fuss created by a publication made a month ago. Therefore I called on the government to comment on this."

The spokesman underlined that prime minister's reply was delayed, adding that the case has been sent to Justice.

The full interview is available for subscribers at ANA-MPA website.

[02] Greece reports 2.5 bln euros primary surplus in Jan-Sept‏

A Finance ministry report said that the general government's primary surplus totaled 2.5 billion euros, or 1.3 pct of GDP in the January-August period, up from a primary surplus of 1.2 billion, or 0.6 pct of GDP in the corresponding period in 2013.

In announcement, the ministry said that these figures confirmed an estimate that the Greek government was very near to achieving and surpassing a fiscal target for a primary surplus of 1.5 pct of GDP in 2014, allowing the government to introduce, focused, positive interventions, such as a cutting an extra solidarity tax by 30 pct, maintaining a 13 pct VAT on restaurant/hotel services, reducing a special consumption tax on heating oil by 30 pct, lowering social insurance contributions and distributing a "social dividend" to citizens in need.

The state budget deficit was 2.3 billion euros, or 1.3 pct of GDP, surpassing a medium-term programe's target by 1.4 billion euros, while net budget revenues fell to 33.9 billion euros, 330 million euros lower than targets, reflecting higher tax returns.

Primary spending totaled 30.4 billion euros, down 1.9 billion euros from last year and 1.2 billion euros lower from a medium-term programe's target.

Public Investment Programe's spending rose 32 pct to 3.6 billion euros, compared with the same period in 2013, contributing to an increase in the private and public capital of the economy.

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