Forget about preventing default in Greece, control it, says Europe

By Michael Steininger, Christian Science Monitor | 08:54 am

Greece’s European partners are increasingly skeptical that Athens can avoid default.The highly indebted country is working feverishly to secure a debt write-off to avoid default, but international investors see even that as a default of sorts.

With only weeks to go before a crucial bond repayment date, statements from European leaders reveal a growing mistrust in the Greek political class’s ability and willingness to implement deficit cutting measures.Without those measures, Greece will not receive a necessary second bailout from international lenders, and without the bailout, it will likely

What’s Up in Greece on June 12?

Posted by keeptalkinggreece in Very Mix

 My site was down this morning. Problem solved in 5 minutes. For me that was the big “UP” or better say, the big “DOWN” today…. The new Pan-European appointment for Indignant Europeans is on the agenda, this Sunday. All eyes are directed to Greece and the huge protest expected to take place in Athens at 7.30 p.m. Protests will be held in the squares of many Greek cities too.

I’m considering again a Live Streaming and Live Blogging. Organizers aim to get a huge crowd again today, even though tomorrow Monday is a holiday for the public sector and banks – only the unlucky in shops will have to work tomorrow. I guess, quite some Athenians took a long weekend outside the city.

Greek opposition sets demands as EU/IMF verdict nears

By Harry Papachristou and Renee Maltezou

ATHENS | Mon May 30, 2011 7:55am EDT

(Reuters) – Greece’s conservative opposition demanded tax cuts on Monday as the price for a consensus deal with the Socialist government on imposing yet more austerity, a major condition for getting further aid from the EU and IMF.

Conservative leader Antonis Samaras called for a flat 15 percent corporate tax and rejected government plans for hiking taxes to tackle Greece’s budget deficit and please fiscal inspectors mulling the next, key tranche of a 110 billion euro bailout.