GREEK GOVERNMENT WILL REOPEN CLOSED PUBLIC TELEVISION IN 2013
The Greek
government wants to reopen the public television ERT, closed in 2013 by the
previous executive, and will introduce in Parliament a draft law to that end. It
is envisaged "the return to work of the redundant" who so
desire.
Government source quoted by AFP said the
reopening will not have negative effects on public finances. Nikos Pappas,
Minister of State, said the government "does not exclude the fee increase" to
finance the ERT.
The end of the season, in June 2013, ordered by the then
conservative Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, justified with the austerity. The
head of the government at the time argued with the company’s costs, which
considered excessive for a Greece in crisis.
The interruption emissions
caused a crisis in the government, with the socialist Pasok party and the left-
democratic Dimar – which at the time also a member of the coalition led by New
Democracy -. to demarcate from the decision
The ERT case had
international repercussions and led events supported by Syriza, which now leads
the government, and a general strike against a decision by unions and opposition
compared to a "coup". For months the facilities were occupied by workers who
opposed the closure. The European Broadcasting Union condemned the
closure.
The station was temporarily replaced by DT. Later gave way to
Nerit, with only 500 employees, less than a fifth of the staff of ERT and a
reduced schedule.
In the campaign, Tsipras pledged to reopen the old
station. "The Government is not limited to return to the old framework
[operating]; will address the problems, but without inadmissible initiatives of
the previous government, such as to impose a black screen, "said Friday the
government source.
Among the criticisms that were made to the public
operator before
closure were waste and the high number of employees. Many
reformed up and a part was fired. Dozens of journalists have been hired by
Nerit, who was accused of condescension towards the previous
conservative-socialist government.
The return of the ERT was announced on
the day that the German Members approved by an overwhelming majority, the
extension of the financial assistance program for Greece. Of the 587 who voted,
542 said "yes" to the prolongation of the agreement for four months; 32 voted
against and 13 blank. The vote is not surprising, because all parliamentary
parties were in favor of the extension. Votes against and white came from the
policy area of ??Chancellor Angela Merkel.
The finance minister, Wolfgang
Schäuble, had asked the favorable vote, although he admitted that it would not
be an easy position for many Members. "Ask everyone to not frown because
causaríamos [sic: how did Spanish get in here?] very great harm to our people
and our future," he said, according to AFP.
The Berlin government needed
the approval of Parliament to give its approval to the extension of the program
in force of 2012 and now ending on 30 June. "We Germans must do everything to
ensure Europe remains united," Schäuble said in a speech gravely. The agreement
"represents no more billions for Greece, does not imply any changes to the
existing program," said too.
The deal between Greece and creditors was
released a week ago. In return for the extension of the agreement, Tsipras
Government did arrive on Tuesday to Brussels a list of reforms. It is a
deliberately vague document, as recognized this Friday the Greek Finance
Minister, Yanis Varoufakis.
The Greeks commitments include no deadlines,
no quantified targets, because that was the recommendation that you have been
made by European counterparts. In an interview with Antenna TV, Varoufakis said
it was advised not mention numbers to avoid possible objections of the
parliaments of the eurozone countries (via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, Feb 27,
DXLD)
GREEK STATE MINISTER: ERT BILL MAY BE TABLED IN PARLIAMENT NEXT
WEEK
by A. Makris - Feb 27, 2015
The
maturing IMF bonds will be covered, Greek State Minister Nikos Pappas said on
Friday. He said that the government and the partners have the political will to
find a solution and noted that the possibility of extending what is being owed
to the IMF is not being considered.
The government has pledged, through a
Eurogroup decision too, that it would meet its loan obligations, he noted and
added that the partners have also committed themselves to that. He said that
"the fiscal gap will be clarified, not in absentia of the primary surplus and
that the country will enter a normalcy period."
He accused German Finance
Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble of taking an extreme and aggressive stance against
Greece and spoke of factors that tried to undermine the government. He said that
the VAT will not be increased and that the legislation on property will be
rather delayed.
He added that the bill on the former state broadcaster
ERT will be possibly tabled in Parliament next week. This would provide for a
small increase in charges to be imposed through the electricity bills so that
the former state broadcaster can reopen, he said and added that as far as
hirings are concerned the priority would be given to those who had been laid off
from the Greece’s old ERT.
Under the bill:
– Those made redundant on
the 11th of June 2013 will return if they wish to
– ERT will be functioning
based on a democracy foundation aimed at improving the quality of the provided
information, cultural and entertainment program.
– There is no additional
financial burden on the state budget and therefore does not become subject of
bargaining developments created.
– The shameful Public TV – NERIT exposed the
country internationally and the Greek nation never approved nor trusted
them.
– Both necessary frameworks for resolving succession and for the
control of financial data and activities for the purpose of smooth and
streamlined operation simultaneously of ERT are being created.
– An essential
annual framework of reconstruction during which altogether will resolve
management issues, operations, organization staff and broadcast of the program,
in order to move into the new era of truly independent and pluralistic public
broadcasting.
Already, the Minister of State responsible on MEDIA issues
has launched consultation on a daily basis with all stakeholders and individuals
in order for ERT to operate immediately.
(via Zacharias Liangas, Greece, Feb
27, DXLD)
[similar mostly duplicative stories with inferior
translations:]
GOVERNMENT STARTS ERT - WHAT WILL INCLUDE, WHO WILL BE
RECRUITED
The government, consistent with the programmatic statements
will submit a bill establishing the ERT SA Thursday 05/03/2015.
This is a
draft law, which makes it clear that the Government has drafted a whole issue,
not merely to restore the previous framework addresses the ills of the past
without '' black drop '' and without unacceptable legal novelties inspired and
implemented the previous government. . .
[Zach`s
own attached publicity]:
My radio related e-books https://www.scribd.com/collections/7127419/Mini-publications
my
radio shack: http://goo.gl/MHAHJ1
all my
pages: http://delicious.com/gr_greek1/zak
Don't
forget to look into my new e-book 25 years Malaysia a survey
Any one buying
and reviewing it will be added into a special chapter as reviewers (Zacharias
Liangas, DX LISTENING DIGEST)