Once again I managed to get behind the scenes at an election rally and took this picture as the PASOK candidates were about to go onstage after a speech by party leader, Giorgos Papandreou in Aristotelous Square last night.
The atmosphere reminded me of the scene from the film Gladiator when those about to fight are waiting in the tunnel, just before walking out into the Colosseum.
With elections just days away the Greece's socialist opposition seems set to take power in the parliamentary elections this Sunday. PASOK leader, Giorgos Papandreaou addressed thousands of party followers in the northern port city of Thessaloniki, promising to bring drastic changes to the way the country is governed.
Although opinion polls have recently been banned by the government in the run up to elections, leaked reports on the internet put the ruling conservative party 7-8% behind their socialist rivals.
Leader of the Greek communist party (KKE) addressed the party faithful tonight in the centre of Thessaloniki ahead of next month's parliamentary elections.
Democracy in Motion: Episode Sofia "Sofia Initiatives" from OMNIBUS on Vimeo.
European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance
"The leader of a right-wing extremist party ( LAOS led by Giorgos Karatzaferis) , which won approximately 3% of the votes in the 2007 parliamentary elections, often makes public antisemitic and racist statements, including blaming immigrants for a surge in drug-related crimes and violence. Thus far, he has not been prosecuted for any of these statements under Law 927/1979."
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Greece/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-ENG.pdf
Δημοσιεύθηκε η 4η έκθεση Συμβουλίου της Ευρώπης για φυλετικές διακρίσεις στην Ελλάδα
«Ο επικεφαλής του ακροδεξιού κόμματος ΛΑ.Ο.Σ. [σημ. Γιώργος Καρατζαφέρης]… κάνει συχνά δημόσια αντισημιτικές και ρατσιστικές δηλώσεις, κατηγορώντας ακόμη τους μετανάστες για αύξηση των εγκλημάτων που σχετίζονται με ναρκωτικά και της βίας. Έως τώρα, δεν έχει διωχθεί για καμία από αυτές τις δηλώσεις σύμφωνα με το Νόμο 927/1979.» (παρ. 91)
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/monitoring/ecri/Country-by-country/Greece/GRC-CbC-IV-2009-031-GRC.pdf
Speaking at a press conference in Thessaloniki today. For more pictures click here;
It should be interesting to see what, if any impact social media will have on the coming national elections here in Greece. Of course the decision to call elections at such short notice has caught many on the hop but I shall be keeping an eye out for what is happening on the Greek language blogosphere and other outlets such as Twitter, Facebook and Youtube.
I think there is the dawning realisation that the internet will become more important in the future as far as getting the message out to voters is concerned but still the kind of web based electioneering we saw in the last US presidential campaign is still far off. Use of the internet remain low and those in charge of the political parties' campaigns continue to put their faith in more traditional media channels such as TV, radio and newspapers, which will get the lion's share of the millions that are going to be spent in the next three weeks.
On the other hand all parties have got a significant presence on the internet and are slowly starting to exploit platforms such as blogs, though these still tend to be just places to display material produced for other sources. I don't see much evidence of grass roots use of such tools to get voters out or co-ordinate activism.
I shall be following events with my camera as the various parties roll through Thessaloniki and give press conferences and organise rallies.
"Usain St. Leo Bolt, C.D. ( born 21 August 1986), is a Jamaican sprinter and a three-time Olympic gold medalist. He holds the world record for the 100 metres, the 200 metres and, along with his teammates, the 4x100 metres relay. He also holds the Olympic record for all three of these races. At the 2008 Summer Olympics, Bolt became the first man to win three sprinting events at a single Olympics since Carl Lewis in 1984, and the first man to set world records in all three at a single Olympics. In 2009 he became the first man to hold the 100 and 200 m world and Olympic titles at the same time."
With parliamentary elections just weeks away Greece's radical left alliance, SYRIZA (Coalition of the Radical Left) has launched its elections campaign with a withering attack on both the ruling conservative New Democracy government and it's main socialist rival, PASOK. Speaking today at a press conference in Greece's second largest city, Thessaloniki, leader of SYRIZA's parliamentary group. Alexis Tsipras attacked the government's bank bail out policy for supporting the country's financial institutions with public money at a time when they have reported massive profits.
In addition Tsipras poured cold water on the idea of any possible post election coalition with the PASOK party of Giorgos Papandreou. However, SYRIZA, which is made up of several smaller left wing parties has itself found difficulties with leadership battles and an electorate that failed to respond to the party's platform in the recent European parliamentary elections.
After months of speculation the announcement of snap elections by the Greek prime minister, Kostas Karamanlis last week has seen a flurry of campaigning activity amongst the country's main political parties who are rushing to get their campaign for October 4th parliamentary elections underway.
Last night leader of the Greek communist party (KKE) Aleka Papariga addressed the party faithful at a rally in the northern port city of Thessaloniki. She said that the party, which currently has 22 MPs in the 300 seat Greek parliament offered a chance for voters to reject the failed policies of both the ruling conservative, New Democracy party and their socialist rivals, PASOK.
Part of an ongoing project which I can not talk about under pain of death, or at least many hard stares.
Karatzaferis was speaking in Thessaloniki this afternoon. As head of the far right LAOS party he has spearheaded a campaign for mainstream legitimacy with regular appearances on TV chat shows and the like. The party was one of the few to make any gains during the recent European parliamentary elections, draining votes from the unpopular conservative New Democracy party. However, like so many politicians of his ilk he has more than a few skeletons in the closet, as this 2007 article from the Greek national daily, Kathimerini points out.
By Takis Kambylis - Kathimerini
“First of all, I am not a Jew. Can the prime minister say that of himself? Secondly, I am not a communist. Can Mr Karamanlis say that?” asked LAOS leader Giorgos Karatzaferis, speaking in Corinth on May 28, 2002. “Thirdly, I am not a homosexual. There aren’t many who can say that,” he added. He was not widely quoted at the time, but Karatzaferis is given to making remarks of a similar nature, and had in the past made reference to a grandfather of then Prime Minister Costas Simitis, Aaron Avouris.
Anti-Semitism has long been the LAOS leader’s favorite subject. Long before he founded LAOS, when he was still a parliamentary deputy for the New Democracy party, he had founded Nea Elpida (New Hope), something between a non-profit
firm and a political party, through which he made overtures to the extreme right-wing Chrysi Avgi (Golden Dawn) and its “worthy fighters.”
Greek forest fighters remember colleagues lost over the last few years. They were protesting outside the 74th International Trade Fair for better conditions and an end to the system where they are fired every year only to be rehired the following summer.
Unfortunately, not everyone was moved by their plight, the police who only yesterday were saying that they, too were the victims of government indifference and whim, edgily fingered their riot shields and batons, ready to employ tear gas should the protest advance any further and so spoil the PM's PR gig.
The arrival of the Greek prime minister, Costas Karamanlis in the northern port city of Thessaloniki was met with demonstrations by trade union, political parties and other groups unhappy with the ruling conservative government.
Under the watchful eye of thousands of riot police protesters marched through the centre of Greece's second city. Although there were a few minor clashes between anti-authoritarian groups and the police the event passed off peacefully.
Following last week's announcement by the prime minister the country is set to go to the polls next month just two years after the re-election of New Democracy. A failing economy, rising unemployment and a series of corruption scandals have eaten away at the government's electoral base.
However, political analysts are still divided over whether the main opposition party PASOK will be able to form a majority government and secure the necessary 3/5 of parliamentary seats needed to elect a president in March. Failing that the country will once again go to the polls.
For video of the demonstration check out Piazzo del Popolo's one.
Amidst draconian security measures Greek prime minister arrived in the country's second city, Thessaloniki to give his annual state of the nation address.
With 3000 extra police officers on the streets including 60 platoons of heavily armed riot police the ruling New Democracy party were taking no chances.
Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest a wide range of issues. firefighters, teachers, students, anarchists, cleaners and trade unionists marched through the centre of Thessaloniki under the watchful eye of thousands of police officers.
The nation will go to the polls on the 4th October following the decision last week by the prime minister to call snap elections just two years after being re-elected.
"Members of Greece's police force and other emergency services took to the streets of the country's second city to demand better pay and conditions from the government.
Even as the Greek prime minister was arriving in Thessaloniki for perhaps the most important speech of his career police officers, fire fighters and members of the coast guard demonstrated in the streets.
The city is bracing itself for a wave of marches and protests that are expected to accompany Costas Karamanlis's keynote speech during the annual international Thessaloniki trade fair after recently announced snap elections for the 4th October."
Apparently, the police think that their contributions to Greek society have gone unrewarded. Don't ask me I'm biased.
Not bad for a 10 year old with a 5mp point and shoot. Then again, if you got an eye then it doesn't matter what camera you use.
The bomb was planted behind a defunct telephone junction box outside the Ministry of Macedonia and Thrace and went off early this morning, one hour after a larger device exploded outside Athens stock exchange.
Unlike the explosion in the capital the one here resulted in just a few smashed windows and no injuries. However, I'm sure a few egos were bruised as the security in the city had been stepped up recently in anticipation of the visit by the prime minister to open the annual trade fair. Though quite how the police hope to fight terrorism by endlessly drinking coffee, looking tough on street corners (mirror shades are de rigueur) and zooming up and down the main streets on motorbikes is beyond me.
On the other hand, the forensics guys work quickly here as there was no sign of any activity around the site when I went there midday.
I was asked to talk about what I had seen and give my impressions on was happening by the BBC World Service yesterday.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0042c1d#synopsis
After weeks of speculation over when the next general elections will take place, Kostas Karamanlis finally announced that the country will go to the polls in October.
This means that they economy really is in dire straits as no sane person would call for elections just weeks after devastating fires and with the ruling New Democracy party mired in a series of corruption scandals, Obviously, the PM thought that it is better to bite the bullet now rather than wait till next year when who knows what terrible economic news is going to come to light.
"The report on the centre at Pagani adds to concern already expressed by UNHCR about Greece's treatment of migrants.
UNHCR spokesman Andrej Mahecic said commission staff had visited the centre, which has a capacity of 250 to 300, earlier this week. Most detainees were from Afghanistan, he said.
"The UNHCR staff described the condition of the centre as unacceptable," he told a briefing.
"One room houses over 150 women and 50 babies, many suffering from illness related to the cramped and unsanitary conditions of the centre," he said."
