Thomsen
Economy
Where Did Greece's Bailout Money Go?
Three years after international bailouts began to keep Greece's economy from imploding, the government has spent a first rescue package of $152 billion and is working its way through a second of $173 billion but the country's debt is...
Economy
Samaras Wants Allies Ready For Troika
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who is leader of the New Democracy Conservative party, will brief his coalition partners, PASOK Socialist chief Evangelos Venizelos, and Democratic Left (DIMAR) head Fotis Kouvelis, on the government's strategy to deal with international...
Economy
Greece, Troika Talks Far Apart
Envoys from Greece's international lenders are squeezing the uneasy coalition government led by Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, the New Democracy Conservative leader to push the pace of reforms - including firing public workers, privatizing state entities and ending professional...
Economy
IMF: Catch Tax Cheats or Cut Wages, Pensions
If the Greek government fails to collect from tax evaders it will be forced to again cut worker’s salaries and pension benefits despite Prime Minister Antonis Samaras’ promise he wouldn’t impose more austerity, the International Monetary Fund’s man in...
Greece
Greece-Troika Budget Stalemate Continues
Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras will go to a European Union meeting on Oct. 18 empty-handed after his coalition partners refused to go along with changes to labor rules as part of a $17.45 billion spending cut and tax...
Economy
Troika Breaks Off Budget Talks With Greece
Greece’s negotiations with international lenders hit another snag on Oct. 16 when the envoy of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) broke off talks and said he had to brief the agency’s chief, Christine Lagarde on the lack of progress.
The...
Economy
Pushed by Troika, Stournaras Threatened to Quit
Frustrated by relentless demands from international lenders that Greece make even deeper pay cuts, tax hikes and slashed pensions, Finance Minister Yiannis Stournaras threatened to resign during an intense meeting, the New York Times reported.
Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, under...
Economy
Warnings that Greece May Have to Restructure Again
Despite two bailouts totaling $325 billion, a $134 billion write-down in debt, crushing pay cuts, tax hikes, slashed pensions, the coming firing of 150,000 workers, reducing the minimum wage 22-32 percent, phasing out collective bargaining rights for workers and...