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Der Spiegel picked it up from the FT. (Auf Deutsch)

The proposal comes from Germany (where else?) and involves a budget officer from the EU with veto power over the Greek government.


an ill wind blows in Greece

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Sat Jan 28th, 2012 at 04:08:39 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Actually the leak originated in Spiegel I think. Here is the relevant document. It demands that Greece give absolute priority to debt service, ideally under a constitutional amendment, even if a tranche in the programme is missed (which means "shut down hospitals and schools, if you have to, the Hedge Funds are more important"). Also it demands "Transfer of national budgetary sovereignty", believe it or not. This beyond the supposed troika demands of a 16% cut across the board in private sector wages, dismantling most labor laws, firing half of public employees and a serious reduction in the minimum wage, and a ton of new taxes...
This is unrealistic and a bargaining bluff. In the unlikely case that they are idiots enough to mean it, even if somehow everyone accepts this passively (which I seriously doubt, accepting these demands is awfully close to the definition of treason), than Greece in a few months will be a failed state. I for one will stop paying taxes all together. Not evade, refuse, until sovereignty is restored (that is if I still have an income). But, barring a coup or an invasion, this is not politically feasible. The Greek government has said that this is a "non-paper", there's nothing to comment on...

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake
by talos (mihalis at gmail dot com) on Sat Jan 28th, 2012 at 06:36:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]
Ain't it great. Who needs armies etc. to subjugate populations when you have these characters.

They tried to assimilate me. They failed.
by THE Twank (yatta blah blah @ blah.com) on Sat Jan 28th, 2012 at 07:36:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]
but it is interesting that it came to light on a Friday, traditionally the day for journalistic stealth attacks. the present government would reject this? and make what compromise, which may be the goal of whoever put this in place?

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin
by Crazy Horse on Sat Jan 28th, 2012 at 08:35:42 AM EST
[ Parent ]
The Greek government claims that this is a non-issue, and the troika never mentioned anything like this.
Every time there is a tranche payment, before the actual deal that evidently deepens austerity and recession, there come to light a series of threats, ridiculous demands, leaks etc which create a climate of threat and fear in Greece. Last time (December) it was the threat that Greece would be ejected from the Euro... Each time the tone become's shriller. Next time I suppose they will threaten to carpet bomb Greece?
What they're after is a deep minimazation of pensions, extensive labor "reforms", and more taxes. They threaten, as I mention, with huge reductions in private wages and salaries and canceling the minimum wage. What usually happens is that the more extreme demands are dropped, the government claims that they managed to avert them themselves, and the desired "reforms" pass as a relatively lesser evil...

The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom - William Blake
by talos (mihalis at gmail dot com) on Sat Jan 28th, 2012 at 01:25:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]
What a dream, that Greek citizens and opposition leaders somehow saw how to stop this shit. If only we here in Germany could stop the demands of the financial governments.

I'm hoping you and your colleagues know better than i.

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage." - Anaïs Nin

by Crazy Horse on Sat Jan 28th, 2012 at 01:54:06 PM EST
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