Workers to launch protests
Public Power Corporation (PPC) employees are to launch rolling 24-hour strikes from next Tuesday in protest at plans to sell the Independent Power Transmission Operator – known by its Greek acronym ADMIE – one of the power board’s subsidiaries. The first day of the strike has been timed to coincide with the scheduled submission in Parliament of the bill outlining the sale. Unionists have insisted that the action will not result in power cuts but rather in delays for repairs.
Trial postponed.
Themis Skordeli, a member of Golden Dawn and a parliamentary candidate with the neofascist party, appeared in court yesterday on a string of misdemeanor charges but her trial was postponed for the eighth time. The 50-year-old is charged with forgery, illegal possession of smoke bombs, as well as breaking intellectual property rights laws. She was arrested last October after police found in her possession 18 smoke bombs, bank statements outlining suspiciously large deposits, two bags containing knockoff CDs and DVDs, and notes listing the addresses and names of migrants. Skordeli’s trial had been postponed several times as she had repeatedly cited psychological problems and had submitted medical reports to support her claims.
Hospital stoppage.
Public hospitals will operate on skeleton staffs today from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. due to a work stoppage by doctors. Protesters are due to gather in front of the Health Ministry in central Athens at 1 p.m. Doctors want the government to withdraw its proposals for changes to primary healthcare.
Dealer sought.
Police at the Greek-Albanian border were yesterday seeking a suspected drug dealer who abandoned a car holding 72 kilograms of cannabis near the small town of Filiates. Police had signaled to the driver of the Audi A4 to stop but he accelerated, prompting a chase which ended with the suspect abandoning the car and fleeing on foot. Border guards arrested a 50-year-old former police officer believed to have operated as a lookout for the dealer.
Vovos arrested.
Construction magnate Babis Vovos was arrested yesterday in connection with debts to the state in excess of 7 million euros. According to a statement released by Greek police, the 81-year-old businessman was arrested for owing a total of 7.5 million euros to the state. Vovos has been arrested several times in the past on similar charges and had been granted conditional release.