A love letter from the troika with its ten commandments for the Greek economy, as some dailies saw it, dominated headlines.

 

The letter was presented to the leaders of the three coalition parties in Lucas Papademos’ government, who are expected to fully back the harsh austerity, now and in the future.

 

The measures were no surprise – indeed they have been discussed endlessly: a rise in tax assessment of property values (retroactively, as of January 1), 150,000 layoffs in the public sector, the sale of a couple of big state enterprises by June, recapitalising banks (issuing common stock with no voting rights), and abolition of all breaks for tax evaders.

 

“All the measures of the new memorandum” promised Kathimerini’s headline. The article outlined ten preconditions for Greece’s new, 130bn euro loan. They included the aforementioned plus the opening of all closed trades and deep cuts in defence and healthcare spending.

 

The left is stressing that the new memorandum will demolish what remains of social welfare in Greece. The paper reported that Papademos will personally negotiate proposed cuts in employees’ holiday bonuses (the two extra monthly salaries a year that are factored into labour costs) with the troika. If the bonuses stay, Papademos will claim a victory.

 

“Russian interest in energy in Greece” was the paper’s title on New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras’ visit to Russia. Samaras, who is signalling that he wants to revive Greece-Russia relations, had talks with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

 

“Citizens will suffocate [financially] … to save the country” is how Eleftheros Typos described the troika’s plans for Greece. It reported that a 25 percent increase in real estate valuations will produce a corresponding hike in real estate taxes. “The door opened for energy cooperation and investments” was the title on the Samaras-Putin meeting.

 

“The commandments of the troika: Minimum wage and holiday bonuses targeted” was Ta Nea’s headline. “Solution as soon as possible” was the title of the editorial, which called on Pasok to expedite the election of its new leader, because its intraparty wrangling is undermining the government’s effectiveness.

 

“The first dish was energy, the second privatisation” was the title on the Samaras-Putin talks. That suggested that the Russians are interested in some of the bargain basement sell-offs of state assets being arranged by the troika. But will the troika allow the Russians to grab choice morsels?

 

“Proposal for 9 February strike by [communist] PAME unionists in GSEE (General Confederation of Greek Labour)” was the headline of Communist Party organ Rizospastis. The paper opined that GSEE should leave talks with business and let the communists organise the workers’ struggle. “EU summit aims for cheaper workers” read another title, referring to the January 30 European Council.

 

“Decapitation with PSI [debt writedown]? No, thank you” read Avyi’s headline, which predicted that the haircut on sovereign debt will shear wages and social welfare in Greece.