Jobs, no new taxes, no new horizontal cuts, cancel emergency taxes or scale them back  are the pre-election promises Samaras gave in an effort to win debt-ridden and austerity-hit Greek voters.

His programme contains 18 points:

1. Restoration of very low pensions and benefits for parents of more children at 2009 levels and specific benefits. Compensation for insurance funds and the bondholders who drew damages from the Greek bond swap (PSI)

2 Extension of unemployment benefits to two years

3. Unemployment benefits to self-employed who are currently not entitled.

4.Tax regulations so that they won’t exceed  25% of the average family income.

5. No further cut sin the private sector.

5. Increase the tax-free income from 5,000 euro to 8,000 and later to 10,000 euro -when state revenues stabilize

6. Replace the ‘emergency property tax’ with a new regular property tax (ETAK= Special property fee)

7. Gradual reduction of tax rates for businesses. Immediate reduction of VAT in the catering sector at the level of  9% already in the next year.

8. Progressive tax reductions for individuals up to 32% from 45% today. “The increase in tax rates from 2010 to date caused a reduction in revenue of 9%,” said Samaras.

9.The measures of 11.5 billion euro [to go in effect in June] to be extend for two more years. “We will introduce the 3.5 billion. euro cuts in 2013 rather than seven billion So, the cuts will be made by the wasteful use of public money rather than by wages. ”

10. No lay-offs for civil servants for three years after the closure of public organizations. “No other horizontal cuts, no more reduction in wages and pensions, no more cuts in public investment program, not another tax. Those who speak of unilateral termination lead to a rupture with partners and lead to new taxes and cuts. ”

11. Measures for borrowers. The monthly loan payment will not exceed 30% of the income.

12.  Suspension of the consequences of Tiresias [system for debtors]  or those who have registered.

13. Ensure liquidity to SMEs through a special sponsorship from the bank and the funds of the ERDF. “The basic mechanism to restore liquidation is that banks deposits will return to the banks”.

14. Offset of debts from and to the state.

15.Release of the  public property.

16. Decisive promotion of privatization.

17. Beyond the economy, policies to restore the security of  Greek citizens, combat illegal immigration and crime, disclosure of hooded [protesters], combat illegal trade.

18. Acceleration of the proclamation of the EEZ to exploit the seabed  energy wealth.

Where he will find the money to materialize this programme and how he will renegotiate the terms of Memorandum of Understanding to make some of his programme’s targets to come true, Samaras did not reveal…

In public opinion polls ahead June elections, ND heads with 1%-3% ahead of SYRIZA.

ΝD: 25%
SYRIZA: 22,7%
PASOK: 12,5%
INDEPEND GREEKS: 6,5%
ΚΚΕ: 5%
CHRYSI AVGI: 4,5%
DEMOCRATIC LEFT: 5,2%
CREATION AGAIN: 2,2% – ECOGREENS: 1,4% – LAOS: 1%

To the question ” Who can better renegotiate the MoU” 21% said Samaras and 21% said Tsipras. 30% said “Nobody”.

To the question “Who do you trust more to govern” 38% said Samaras, 29% said Tripras, 30% said “Nobody”.

Tricky or Charming?
IMF spokesman Gerry Rice said Thursday that Lagarde told her board this week that “she regrets that her remarks were misunderstood and caused offense.”
Rice says the IMF has “great respect for Greece and the people and the sacrifices that many are making to overcome the economic crisis.”

Rice’s statement comes after a global outcry against Lagarde’s remarks.

PS When the clearly articulated is misunderstood, then the complicated is clear…

“The Greek economy is suffering from the destabilizing tendencies of an election showdown with a focus on compliance or not the contractual obligations arising from the implementation of the Memorandum. Already, delays in meeting budgetary targets and structural reforms as well, because of successive electoral contests have waned, the tax collection mechanism, and significant initiatives in privatization decisions have been referred to the next government.

This effect would be intensified if, after the elections of June 17,  the government will want to question the implementation of the Memorandum. This prospect has brought on the agenda not only Greece’s exit from the Euro but generally from the European Union.

Never previously responsible political forces were so indifferent to the impact of their political stragtegies and goals on the economy.

 The political debate is conducted in a manner detrimental to their economic stability.”

The only way they can avoid actions that lead the country in very dangerous adventures is to abandon any idea of ​​time for removal of the Memorandum and loan contracts.”

Alpha Bank continues its long report saying that with the termination of MoU no fund from the country’s lenders would arrive, the state would not be able to meet its obligations in therms of paying wages and pensions, in the health and education sector.”

And many other nice things, you can read here (and/or translate with google)

 PS To tell you the truth I would support the MoU if I were the Alpha Bank too. Then for 1.9 billion euro recapitalisation injection I would be an enthusiastic MoU supporter as well.

But as the MoU currently sucks my blood and this of my family, relatives and friends, we tend to rather have a critical stance. 

Of course, all Greek banks would face huge problems if concerned and panicked customers precautionary empty their bank deposits, just in case Greece leaves the Euro and returns to Drachma.

 Oops! Before I forget it! I think it were our European partners that brought the euro-exit on the agenda, in an effort to fear mongering Greek voters…
 

Speaking to private Contra-Channel TV, Michaloliakos said that the Germans are an enslaved folk, that has totally bowed to the consuming way of life. a folk of sausage-eaters without ideals.”

Michaloliakos described SYRIZA as the “circus of Marxism.”

“The majority of Greeks does not know what they believe in. “In the past they maybe knew. They voted for a work place, for a favour.”

Michaloliakos rejected any future cooperation with other political parties but stressed that he would give an one-day ‘tolerance vote’ to the government that would denounce the Memorandum of Understanding.

PS Why I am writing this post? In order to avoid writing about the real chaos we live in nowadays: Chronic-ills are deprived of medicine as they cannot pay for it because the pharmacists do not give on insurance fund credit anymore. The crime is at its peak with culprits torturing seniors for a couple of euros. People who withdraw large amounts of money from the banks to save them in case of a euro exit, see them grabbed by thieves. Debts collecting companies terrorize people even for debts of 70 euros. Employees struggle to come along with salary payments. Citizens sit in the dark due to unpaid electricity bills.

Asn from early in the morning until late in the evening, we get bombared with mass attacks of  euro exit bombs… 

The chaos is already here, it won’t come after the June elections.