Power cuts are expected throughout the country today as Public Power Corporation (PPC) unions launch 48-hour walkouts.These rolling strikes are in protest of the recession-plagued country’s plans to break off and sell part of the country’s dominant power provider.The PPC union argues that electricity is a vital commodity that should stay under state control, but the conservative-led government seems determined to continue with the privatization plan that is one of the demands that international creditors are making.
Asked about opposition political parties’ resistance to the government’s privatization plans, Mr. Samaras said that he would not bow down to “fanatic populists” seeking to stop privatization – something that is being successfully implemented around the world. He named the Hellenic Telecommunications Organization (OTE) as a prime example that lead to easier access lower prices.
The Communist Party of Greece (KKE) General Secretary Dimitris Koutzoumbas said that workers should target the policy of liberalization of the energy sector in general and not just the privatization of PPC.
The Democratic Left (DIMAR) said that privatizations shouldn’t be carried out only for accounts purpose, but should also bear in mind the defence of public interest and the country’s developmental prospects. He criticized the government’s threats to workers and said that there needs to be “dialogue.”
Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos said that the government, “having failed at financial and developmental politics, and in their political panic, are now donating pulic property to their creditors. The value of just one PPC unit given away is manifold the current share value of the company’s total. We don’t recognize such gifts, they should be returned to the people.”
On its part, the Spartakus union has announced that it will strike at all of the PPC’s production unions, but not at the same time.
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