Just yesterday, I posted the assertion that our debt is so crushing that it will have to backed by America itself - literally, and that Obama's secret land grab doesn't do anything to allay those fears, and then, today, there's this:
German MPs suggest cash-strapped Greece should sell islands
Published: 4 Mar 10 13:47 CET
Greece should sell some of its uninhabited islands to raise cash to avoid bankruptcy, two German parliamentarians from Chancellor Angela Merkel's centre-right coalition suggested on Thursday.
- Potholes for sale in German village - Society (3 Mar 10)
- Castrate Knut, say animal rights activists - Society (3 Mar 10)
- Let’s keep our paws off Knut’s balls - Analysis & Opinion (3 Mar 10)
Marco Wanderwitz, an MP for Merkel's own conservative Christian Democrats, said Athens should provide collateral for any money it receives from the European Union to help it out of its debt crisis.
"In this case, certain Greek islands also come into question," added Wanderwitz.
"We give you cash, you give us Corfu," the Bild commented.
Greece has around 6,000 islands off its coast, of which only 227 are inhabited, according to the country's National Tourism Office website.
The cash-strapped country Wednesday launched a fresh round of draconian austerity measures in a bid to rein in a ballooning budget deficit that is more than four times above EUlimits.
The Socialist government increased sales, tobacco and alcohol taxes and cut public sector holiday allowances to save €4.8 billion ($6.5 billion), equal to about two percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Pensions in the public and private sector were also frozen.
Merkel is set to hold talks with Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou on Friday to discuss the situation in Greece.
AFP (news@thelocal.de)
Posts
