Greece news items of the day - in light of the resignations hitting the Coalition so far , who gets the boot or gets too sick to serve on Wednesday ?

http://ransquawk.com/headlines/231609

New Greek government mulls replacing the national bank chief according to a source

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_1_26/06/2012_449171

Deputy minister's resignation jolts coalition's plans The coalition government suffered a fresh blow on Tuesday, as it prepares for this week’s European Union leaders’ summit, when Deputy Merchant Marine Minister Giorgos Vernikos resigned after being linked to an offshore firm. The new administration has run into a series of problems, including an eye operation for Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and the illness of would-be finance minister Vassilis Rapanos. Vernikos’s departure added to the recent confusion and prompted Samaras to raise the issue with his coalition partners, PASOK’s Evangelos Venizelos and Democratic Left’s Fotis Kouvelis. Vernikos, a businessman who was one of Venizelos’s choices for the Cabinet, quit after SYRIZA pointed out that he was breaking a 2010 law by taking up a ministerial position. In its statement, SYRIZA said that it had “nothing personal” against Vernikos but highlighted that the law prohibits politicians from being involved in offshore companies. The leftist party said Vernikos had links to a company in the Marshall Islands. Speaking to Skai TV after his resignation, Vernikos said he was not aware that his offshore business dealings were incompatible with holding a cabinet position. The incident overshadowed preparations for the EU summit tomorrow and Friday. Samaras, who spoke to several EU leaders on the phone on Tuesday, is preparing a letter for his counterparts. The note will be delivered by President Karolos Papoulias, who will represent Greece at the talks. Kathimerini understands Samaras will not make reference to specific changes to the bailout terms but will point out that the deepening recession and rising unemployment mean the program needs to be adjusted. Papoulias met yesterday with Finance Minister Giorgos Zannias, Development Minister Costis Hatzidakis and Alternate Finance Minister Christos Staikouras to be briefed on what to expect during talks in Brussels. “Europe is taking steps but time may run out by the time it reaches its destination,” said Hatzidakis. and....... http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w_articles_wsite1_9855_26/06/2012_449164 EOPYY debts to be paid ‘in a week’ Health Minister Andreas Lykourentzos promised on Tuesday that the country’s largest healthcare provider, the National Organization for Healthcare Provision (EOPYY), would make good on its debts for April by next Thursday and urged pharmacists to stop their freeze on credit to patients insured with the organization. Speaking after talks with senior officials from the Finance and Labor ministries and from the health sector -- including EOPYY head Gerasimos Voudouris, the president of the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association Theodoros Ambatzoglou, and the director of the Social Security Foundation Rovertos Spyropoulos -- Lykourentzos appealed to pharmacists to halt a 35-day protest that has caused serious problems for patients trying to procure medication, particularly costly drugs for serious ailments such as cancer. During the meeting, it was decided that 125 million euros would be released gradually from Thursday until next Thursday to cover EOPYY’s debts to pharmacies for prescriptions issued in April. The organization has already serviced half of its debts for that month. The minister also referred to some 270 million euros in older debts racked up over the past few years by funds within EOPYY, noting that these arrears would be paid off “according to the law and in due course.” According to sources, top officials at the Health and Labor ministries have proposed that these older debts be cleared using funding from Greece’s international creditors -- a suggestion unlikely to be well received by the lenders. Another proposed solution would be to tally up the debts against the tax obligations of the pharmacists. Ambatzoglou, who represents pharmacists at a nationwide level, told Kathimerini that he welcomed the minister’s move, adding however that pharmacists would wait to see the pay order for the outstanding April dues before they decide to call off their action. The action was called off in Piraeus last week, leading to hundreds of people lining up outside local pharmacies to buy their medicine on credit. Their Thessaloniki counterparts have also lifted their boycott. and...... http://www.athensnews.gr/portal/1/56512 News bites @ 5 by Evdoxia Mpras 26 Jun 2012 Stournaras is chosen as new finance minister 1. Stournaras chosen as finance minister  A respected economist and professor, 55-year-old Stournaras was named finance minister on Tuesday morning. The decision came just hours after Vasilis Rapanos declined the ministry due to health reasons. Stournaras will meet with Antonis Samaras at the prime minister’s residence on Tuesday. 2. Papoulias en route to Brussels  President Karolos Papoulias was hastily called upon to represent Greece at this week's EU summit, after Brussels rejected the proposed participation of Foreign Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos. The government was deadlocked for six days after its swearing-in ceremony, due to debilitating health problems of its top brass, Papoulias was the only one competent under EU treaty rules to represent the country at the crucial EU summit in Brussels on June 28-29. 3. Dip in tourism According to the study, arrivals from two of the most important tourist markets, Germany and The Netherlands show a substantial decline. 135,000 fewer German tourists intend to visit Greece in comparison with 2011. The statistics for Dutch tourists are estimated at 37,000 fewer than in 2011. This change is considered a consequence of the country’s unstable economic situation, as well as perceived growing anti-German sentiment in Greece. 4. Urgent pharmacy meeting At a Panhellenic Pharmacists Association (PFS) meeting on Monday afternoon it was decided anew not to supply medicine to people insured with EOPYY starting July 1, if payment was not carried out. Following this meeting, the ministries of health and labour have announced that 125 million euros will be paid to pharmacists around the country by July 5. The meeting was attended by Health Minister Andreas Lykourentzos, Labour Minister Yiannis Vroutsis and Deputy Health Minister Marios Salmas.