With creditors demanding solutions to the Greek debt crisis and the financial world increasingly on edge, Athens on Wednesday froze pensions, cut civil service salaries and slapped new taxes on everything from cigarettes and alcohol to fuel and precious gems."Manca de previsió dels governants i mesures que perjudiquen als més febles"
Markets and the European Union reacted well to the euro 4.8 billion austerity plan.
"Normal, tot el que és pugui expreme a la població grega millor, serà menys el que el govern grec, pidolarà a l' Unió Europea"
But Greek unions were outraged - and the country's embattled premier, who had likened the situation to a "state of war," is headed to Germany and France seeking more definite expressions of support. "Doncs clar, tu diràs com s'han posat els Grecs, d'això s'en diu cornut i pagar el beure".
Prime Minister George Papandreou warned that unless the new measures won European Union and market backing, bringing down the cost of borrowing for the country, Greece would turn to the International Monetary Fund. Such a move would be unpalatable for the European Union, highlighting the bloc's inability to manage the crisis on its own.
"From today the problem can't be considered 'Greek.' We are doing what we must and more," Papandreou said. "So now, it is the time of Europe." If the EU and the markets don't respond "as we would wish, because of speculative behaviour, our last resort would be the International Monetary Fund." "Ara toca pidolar i traspassar el mort a la UE, en primer lloc per rebaixar les tensions internes i fer veure als pobres grecs que el problema és d' UE que no els ajuden"
Greece is already receiving technical help from the IMF, but has not yet appealed for a bailout. The IMF has bailed out EU members Hungary, Romania and Latvia, as well as non-members Iceland, Ukraine, Belarus and Serbia - but never a member of the euro.
"From today the problem can't be considered 'Greek.' We are doing what we must and more," Papandreou said. "So now, it is the time of Europe." If the EU and the markets don't respond "as we would wish, because of speculative behaviour, our last resort would be the International Monetary Fund." "Ara toca pidolar i traspassar el mort a la UE, en primer lloc per rebaixar les tensions internes i fer veure als pobres grecs que el problema és d' UE que no els ajuden"
Greece is already receiving technical help from the IMF, but has not yet appealed for a bailout. The IMF has bailed out EU members Hungary, Romania and Latvia, as well as non-members Iceland, Ukraine, Belarus and Serbia - but never a member of the euro.
"Les grans potències, posen resistència a pagar, ajuda tècnica la que vulguin, però per ara ni un Euro".
Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said the IMF would not have imposed any harsher measures had Athens already appealed to it, and would have provided financial aid in return.
"The difference is that the IMF has money on the table - something that is not the case so far from Europe," Papaconstantinou said on Mega television later Wednesday.
Papandreou said the measures, which amount to savings of $6.5 billion, or roughly 2 percent of gross domestic product, were "not taken out of choice but out of necessity."
Savings will be split evenly between increasing revenue and slashing spending. Tax increases include a 20 percent hike for alcohol, a 65 percent increase on cigarettes and raising sales tax, or VAT, from 19 percent to 21 percent. Cuts include curbing civil servants' pay, cutting bonuses and stipends and freezing pensions.
Papaconstantinou said the government could not yet clarify whether the pay cuts would extend to coming years. " tu diràs, no te ni idea de quant podrà aclarir res, ara tira que demà potser farà més sol".
Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou said the IMF would not have imposed any harsher measures had Athens already appealed to it, and would have provided financial aid in return.
"The difference is that the IMF has money on the table - something that is not the case so far from Europe," Papaconstantinou said on Mega television later Wednesday.
While Athens wants a European rather than an IMF solution, "we cannot close the door at a time when we have not yet safeguarded that the country will continue to borrow ... at rates that are not outrageous."
What Greece wants is a clear indication from Europe that it would receive help if that became necessary, he said.
The minister said the perception of Greece had been that it wasn't facing up to its responsibilities.
"That has broken today," he said.
The IMF in Washington said it approved of the new plan, which is to be voted on in Parliament Friday.
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said Greece's cuts went even further than those demanded by the EU.
"They're clearly delivering what the euro group members and the Commisson have asked for, and more," she told Britain's Sky News Wednesday night. "Actually Greece is beating expectations when it comes to measures to reduce its deficit and to cut on its spending."
But she said there was "no need" for other euro-zone countries to now contribute money to help stabilize Greece's finances.
What Greece wants is a clear indication from Europe that it would receive help if that became necessary, he said.
The minister said the perception of Greece had been that it wasn't facing up to its responsibilities.
"That has broken today," he said.
The IMF in Washington said it approved of the new plan, which is to be voted on in Parliament Friday.
French Finance Minister Christine Lagarde said Greece's cuts went even further than those demanded by the EU.
"They're clearly delivering what the euro group members and the Commisson have asked for, and more," she told Britain's Sky News Wednesday night. "Actually Greece is beating expectations when it comes to measures to reduce its deficit and to cut on its spending."
But she said there was "no need" for other euro-zone countries to now contribute money to help stabilize Greece's finances.
" Aquí ningú vol pagar, la UE, no és una ONG, en tot cas esperaran a que la situació sigui insostenible, o perjudiqui econòmicamente a d'altres països".
Papandreou said the measures, which amount to savings of $6.5 billion, or roughly 2 percent of gross domestic product, were "not taken out of choice but out of necessity."
Savings will be split evenly between increasing revenue and slashing spending. Tax increases include a 20 percent hike for alcohol, a 65 percent increase on cigarettes and raising sales tax, or VAT, from 19 percent to 21 percent. Cuts include curbing civil servants' pay, cutting bonuses and stipends and freezing pensions.
"Aquí és on s'ofega a la classe obrera i la classe mitja passa a ser pobre, els rics com sempre, viuen totalment aillats, d'aquests fets".
Papaconstantinou said the government could not yet clarify whether the pay cuts would extend to coming years. " tu diràs, no te ni idea de quant podrà aclarir res, ara tira que demà potser farà més sol".
Greece shocked its EU partners in October when Papandreou's newly elected Socialists revised the budget deficit to a staggering 12.7 percent of gross domestic product in 2009, from earlier estimates of below 4 percent. The crisis has hammered the euro, the common currency used by 16 nations, and made Greece's cost of borrowing on the international markets skyrocket. It has also sparked market expectations of some sort of bailout led by Germany and France.
Athens has repeatedly said it wants EU help to borrow money at lower rates, but European officials have remained tightlipped over any potential rescue plan.
Athens has repeatedly said it wants EU help to borrow money at lower rates, but European officials have remained tightlipped over any potential rescue plan.
"Aquí ningú mou peça, bla, bla, bla, però ni un Euro".
Papandreou heads to Berlin Friday to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel - whose country is highly reluctant to indicate concrete assistance - and then to Paris for talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy before flying to Washington to meet President Obama.
Papandreou heads to Berlin Friday to meet with German Chancellor Angela Merkel - whose country is highly reluctant to indicate concrete assistance - and then to Paris for talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy before flying to Washington to meet President Obama.
"Qualsevol, lloc és bo, per anar a demanar "
Greece had taken an "important step" toward realizing its goal of cutting its budget deficit, Merkel said in Berlin.
Although Greece announced an austerity plan in January, it won only lukewarm support from the EU and didn't calm jittery markets. But the latest batch of budget cuts won early approval from the EU and leading credit ratings agencies Moody's Investor Services and Fitch Ratings, both of which had downgraded Greece's credit rating in December.
EU Economy Commissioner Olli Rehn, who had demanded new measures during a visit to Athens Monday, described the new plan as a "potential turning point."
"I can see that there is a very strong determination and unity to reform the country and put the public finances under control. This can be made a real turning point in the fiscal history and economic development of Greece," he said.
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and the head of a group of eurozone finance ministers, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, expressed confidence that Greece could now reduce its deficit by four percentage points this year.
Greece had taken an "important step" toward realizing its goal of cutting its budget deficit, Merkel said in Berlin.
Although Greece announced an austerity plan in January, it won only lukewarm support from the EU and didn't calm jittery markets. But the latest batch of budget cuts won early approval from the EU and leading credit ratings agencies Moody's Investor Services and Fitch Ratings, both of which had downgraded Greece's credit rating in December.
EU Economy Commissioner Olli Rehn, who had demanded new measures during a visit to Athens Monday, described the new plan as a "potential turning point."
"I can see that there is a very strong determination and unity to reform the country and put the public finances under control. This can be made a real turning point in the fiscal history and economic development of Greece," he said.
EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and the head of a group of eurozone finance ministers, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, expressed confidence that Greece could now reduce its deficit by four percentage points this year.
"Espero que tinguin raó, sino s'emportaran per debant totes les economies febles d'Europa, Españ·ña entre elles".
Moody's said the austerity measures were a "clear manifestation" of the government's resolve, and that it should be allowed time to follow through and implement the measures, while Fitch Ratings said that "politically challenging measures like a rise in VAT and further cuts in public sector pay indicate that the Greek authorities are indeed serious about cutting the deficit."
Moody's said the austerity measures were a "clear manifestation" of the government's resolve, and that it should be allowed time to follow through and implement the measures, while Fitch Ratings said that "politically challenging measures like a rise in VAT and further cuts in public sector pay indicate that the Greek authorities are indeed serious about cutting the deficit."
While the markets were happy, Greece's labor unions were not.
"These measures are terrible. I think the government does not realize how little people in this country are being paid," said Despina Spanou of the civil servants union ADEDY. "We have no other choice other than to step up (our protests)."
The union has already called its third 24-hour strike for March 16.
"These measures are terrible. I think the government does not realize how little people in this country are being paid," said Despina Spanou of the civil servants union ADEDY. "We have no other choice other than to step up (our protests)."
The union has already called its third 24-hour strike for March 16.
"Vagues¡¡¡¡, però si el que s'ha de fer és treballar".
Smaller business owners warned that the cutbacks would eat into their earnings, forcing closures and cutting jobs. Greek unemployment hit a five-year high of 10.6 percent in November.
Smaller business owners warned that the cutbacks would eat into their earnings, forcing closures and cutting jobs. Greek unemployment hit a five-year high of 10.6 percent in November.
"Aquí estem prop del 20%, que passaría si ens trovessim en les seves cirscumptàncies?".
"Obviously, we must expect a fall in consumer demand," the Athens chamber of small and medium-sized industries said.
"Obviously, we must expect a fall in consumer demand," the Athens chamber of small and medium-sized industries said.
" Tu diràs, ja veureu l'ostia que es donarà el consum, aleshores de què servirà incrementar els impostos? Si l'activitat baixa, la recaptació també.... quelcom no quadra en aquesta equació".
"This carries the threat of a further decrease in company turnover, directly endangering the functioning of smaller businesses, increasing unemployment and in consequence reducing state tax revenues instead of boosting them."
"This carries the threat of a further decrease in company turnover, directly endangering the functioning of smaller businesses, increasing unemployment and in consequence reducing state tax revenues instead of boosting them."
"Sort que Grecia no és Españ·ña, .... Grecia comença amb "G" i Españ·ña a "E".
Entrades
Hola Xavier, si vols saber la meva opinió, penso que quan una persona, una família, un ajuntament, una empresa, un estat, una comunitat gasta mes del que ingressa tard o d’hora te problemes.
ResponEliminaEs el que ha passat a Grècia i a la resta de països que tenen dificultats, el conjunt ha demanat molts de diners i ara toca pagar los.
Els creditors veient la magnitud del deute, cada vegada demanen mes garanties o un interès mes alt per continuar prestant.
Grècia i Espanya tenen en comú que son comunitats on ja fa molt de temps que es gasta mes del que s’ingressa.
Si el destí fos per millorar les infraestructures, per la creació i millora de noves industries o per d’investigació i l’ensenyança, el mon estaria desitjant invertir aquí, pro com que veuen que els diners no els gastem be, els costa de deixar nos mes per po a no cobrar.
Una persona, un estat inconscient, que no se sap gestionar no desperta gaires confiances.
O ens posem a treballar tots, gastem menys i comprem mes productes i serveis autoctons o en el futur ens pot passar qualsevol cosa.
De moment anem perdent anys i guanyant aturats.
En un país on a les industries tanquen per manca de finançament, veiem com per fer sopars amb espectacle i llagostins les administracions s’endeuten, ja se que es la xocolata del lloro, però es la evidencia que aquesta gent encara viu en altre mon, continuant amb actituds que ens porten a que mes endavant es tingui que demanar a la societat sacrificis molt importants que tindran una afectació negativa molt important en la vida de milions de persones.
Aquets pagaran els sopars.