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Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 16-01-04
CONTENTS
[01] Opposition parties react to govt proposals for social security reform
[02] Pensions cannot be less than contributions, Greek president stresses
[01] Opposition parties react to govt proposals for social security reform
Opposition parties continued to hammer away at a proposed set of pension
reforms unveiled by the government this week ahead of its formal tabling
as a draft law this month.
Union of Centrists party leader Vassilis Leventis expressed opposition
over the government's draft law for the social security, after his
meeting on Monday with Labour Minister George Katrougalos, who briefed
him on the government's programme.
On his part, Communist Party (KKE) secretary general Dimitris Koutsoumbas,
after his meeting with Katrougalos, said his party's position is totally
against the government's proposal for the social security reform, noting
that KKE will struggle so that the reforms do not pass in parliament.
Potami leader Stavros Theodorakis, who is visiting the northwest city of
Ioannina, said "Katrougalos' meetings are only for photographers". In
his statement, Theodorakis said "Potami is not willing to follow the
government's public relations programme".
[02] Pensions cannot be less than contributions, Greek president stresses
Pensions cannot be allowed to fall below the amount paid in
contributions, Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos said on Monday after
a briefing on proposed pension system reform he received by relevant
Labour Minister George Katrougalos.
"The partners in the European Union must take into account that the social
insurance system is the heart of the social state of justice throughout
Europe," Pavlopoulos noted. "It is the main pillar, not just of European
democracy but of European civilisation," he added.
"I would like to believe, and not just to hope, that the Greek positions
and the sacrifices of the Greek people will be understood," he said.
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