Rushing to beat the clock before stopping work for the May 5 Easter holiday, lawmakers in the Greek Parliament have received from Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ coalition government a multi-faceted bill of so-called “prior actions” demanded by international lenders in return for continuing a flow of rescue loans, including plans to lay off 15,000 workers by the end of next year.
A vote is scheduled for Sunday, April 28, when public service workers have called for a demonstration to protest. Debate on the package will begin on the morning of April 27 although Samaras, the New Democracy Conservative leader, easily controls the Parliament thanks to the votes given by his coalition partners, the PASOK Socialists and tiny Democratic Left (DIMAR) which nonetheless forced him to withdraw an amendment that would have accelerated the pace of getting rid of contract workers and disciplinary problems.
That has caused tension between the partners, which goernment spokesman Simos Kedikoglou, saying there were difficulties with ministers working with each other. It is estimated that more than 10,000 contract workers have appealed to the courts to extend their deals. They continue to receive their salaries, pending final rulings. In some cases, the process has already being going on for several years.
Administrative Reform Minister Antonis Manitakis wanted to pass a law that would mean the contract workers would stop receiving their salaries once their employment ended.
But that reportedly angered Justice Minister Antonis Roupakiotis, who complained that he had not been consulted and that the plan was “monstrous.” The grievances were aired during a cabinet meeting, which led to the amendment being withdrawn.
The two were DIMAR chief Fotis Kouvelis’ choices to serve in the government.As for a Labor Ministry amendment that would have seen the pensions of newly-retired self-employed workers reduced by 35 percent – Kedikoglou said Samaras’ office had not been informed about this in advance.
The Parliament must act to trigger release of 8.8 billion euros ($11.5 billion) in loans from the Troika of the European Union-International Monetary Fund-European Central Bank (EU-IMF-ECB) which has insisted on the reforms, including the firings that the government was reluctant to impose, fearing a political backlash from its core constituency.
Apart from the contentious issue of layoffs in the public sector, the multi-bill foresees a 15 percent reduction to the emergency property tax as well as facilitating Greeks with tax or social security debts who will be allowed to pay off their dues in installments over two years.
The newspaper Kathimerini said that Samaras may shake up his Cabinet. PASOK leader Evangelos Venizelos, who had refused to allow of his members to serve in the government after the June, 2012 election, will offer three or four ministerial candidates, while DIMAR wants two. The coalition partners had originally feared a backlash for supporting the austerity measures being imposed by Samaras.
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