Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 14-12-15

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

CONTENTS

[01] Administrative Reform Min: The government's work continues normally

[02] Greek budget deficit sharply down in Jan-Nov

[01] Administrative Reform Min: The government's work continues normally

As far as the election of the President of the Republic is concerned, he said he believed deputies will live up to the expectations and will elect a President.

Asked if possible elections would constitute a "credit negative", he said that possible polls would undermine the course of the Greek economy towards recovery.

"The responsibility rests with the deputies. The election of the President of the Republic is not a vote of confidence to the government. The deputies until the third voting must consider if their vote is consistent with the requirements of the Constitution," he said.

Regarding Democratic Left (DIMAR) leader Fotis Kouvelis' statement that if deputies vote for a Greek President, their stance would not be considered a defection, he said "let us put talk on defection aside and allow deputies freely judge the single candidacy of Stavros Dimas."

He added that the lay-offs issue was not discussed in the meeting and that there are specific pledges and time schedules that will be met. On the draft law for the evaluation and certain internal interventions in the labour market of the public sector, he noted these will be put to public consultation before Christmas. He added he has called public sector union ADEDY to a public consultation on the issue, which has not yet responded.

[02] Greek budget deficit sharply down in Jan-Nov

The central bank, in a report, said that ordinary budget revenue amounted to 41.858 billion euros in the 11-month period, compared to 41.638 billion in the corresponding period last year. This figure includes revenue of 1.310 billion euros from repayment of preference shares, while revenue of 62 million regarding Securities Markets Programme (SMP) income transfers from Eurosystem central banks is excluded. Ordinary budget expenditure, including expenditure of about 1.012 billion for the repayment of arrears, as well as 451 million for Greeceʼs contribution to the European Stability Mechanism, amounted to 44.166 billion euros, from 52.080 billion in January-November 2013.

Ôhe cash primary balance of the state budget (surplus 2.605 billion euros) remains a surplus if revenue regarding Securities Markets Programme (SMP) income transfers from Eurosystem central banks is included and revenue from repayment of preference shares, as well as expenditure for the repayment of arrears and for Greeceʼs contribution to the European Stability Mechanism are excluded.

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