Greek General Election Matchday Thread

This is why you should move to Athens where pensions are 150, 000 Euro a year and you get free Dolmados if you are over 55.

 

Sounds good,what age do the pensions start at?

 

55 so that's the Irish and Glaswegians ****ed.

 

As Greece's parliament holds a second vote on its controversial austerity programme, Manuela Saragosa reflects on the importance of the public sector to the Greek nation, and how it has helped the country move on from its dark past.

Vangelis is no ordinary Greek.About 10 years ago he did the unthinkable. He turned down a job at the Central Bank of Greece, an employer widely seen as offering the best perks and privileges in the Greek public sector. So why did he say no?

We are sitting at a bar on the rooftop of a hotel in central Athens.In the distance Greece's most famous tourist attraction - the Acropolis - is lit up against a clear night sky.A warm evening breeze shifts the foam on his glass of beer.Vangelis looks out across the cluttered buildings that make up the Greek capital.

"After I got my acceptance letter, I called up the personnel department at the Bank of Greece," he says."And I asked them, 'what will I be doing in my job there?'" 'Don't worry,' they answered, 'we'll find you something.' "So I said, 'thank you, but no thank you, I won't be taking the job.'"They said I was crazy. They were really shocked," he says.

To understand just how shocking that decision was requires a quick profile of Greece's overstaffed public sector. Up until now jobs in public institutions have been for life.Early retirement is common.Retirement packages are guaranteed and generous.

About one in every four working people is believed to work for the state in one form or another. No-one is quite sure about the exact figure.Yet the Greek public sector ranks as one of the world's most inefficient.Pay is generous in some departments.As one Greek businessman pointed out - a cleaner at the Ministry of Finance earns as much as a manager in other ministries.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/9526090.stm

 

24. The Greeks know how to treat their people.

 

Blessed are the Greek for they should inherit the earth.

 

I think you'll find it was the Cheesemakers.

 

What's so special about the cheesemakers then ?

 

Aye, we've all read your jokes Dev. We know you're the cheesemaker.

 

Has anybody done the Greek Urn joke yet?

Dev ?

 

Am gonny buy this Greek vase.
Naw ye urny.

 

Was done on page 1 and I'm worse for knowing that!

 

Well of course I meant all producers of Dairy products.

 

Haven't they just jumped into bed with a right-wing populist and national conservative party?

It's like a Green-UKIP coalition.

 

Ma urn joke wiz better

 

An unexpected Bank Holiday? Surely they can't complain about that? Another day's holiday for the lazy man of Europe.