MP may vote for president
Just a day after Independent Greeks MPs agreed to back party leader Panos Kammenos and not vote for any presidential candidate the coalition puts forward in February, lawmaker Panayiotis Melas appeared unsure about his stance yesterday. “If a president is not elected and we go to national elections, this would be a drag on the economy,” said Melas. “This is why you have to be careful what you do. It is in the people’s best interests for the elections to happen as late as possible.” The Independent Greeks deputy added that he would definitely vote in favor of former Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis as a presidential candidate.
Soccer depositions.
The head of the Hellenic Football Federation (EPO), Giorgos Sarris, and Olympiakos chairman Vangelis Marinakis both gave depositions yesterday as part of an investigation into an attack on a soccer referee last week. Sarris and Marinakis were called by sports prosecutor Constantinos Simitzoglou after reports that the Olympiakos chief alleged AEK chairman Dimitris Melissanidis attempted to influence the victim, Christoforos Zografos, before the attack. Zografos is also the vice president of EPO’s central refereeing committee. Marinakis and Sarris did not comment after giving their depositions. Simitzoglou has postponed calling Melissanidis so he can study the information he has gathered so far.
Kidnappers in custody.
Two men suspected of kidnapping a 27-year-old medical student from near her home in the Athens neighborhood of Kypseli earlier this month were remanded in custody yesterday. The two suspects, aged 48 and 53, are alleged to have held the woman at a home in Artemida, northeastern Attica, until they were paid an 82,500-euro ransom. Police are still searching for a third man, an Albanian national, who allegedly took part in the kidnapping.
Strike action.
The Panhellenic Seamen’s Union (PNO) said yesterday that it would join a general strike next Thursday, November 27, meaning that ferries will remain moored across the country on that day. Meanwhile the Athens Journalists’ Union (ESIEA) called on its members to hold a three-hour walkout next Thursday and hold its own 24-hour walkout on Wednesday, meaning that no newspapers will circulate on the day of the general strike.
Marbles campaign.
An interactive campaign launched at Athens International Airport yesterday asks travelers to say whether they believe the Parthenon Marbles, currently on display at the British Museum in London, should be returned to Greece. The airport has set up four interactive screens – three in the departures area and one at arrivals – which pose the question: “Are you in favor of the Marbles being returned to the Parthenon: yes or no?”