The election process and number of candidates for PASOK’s (Panhellenic Socialist Movement) presidency will be finalized this week after the Political Council’s meeting on Thursday and the National Council’s meeting in the weekend. Meanwhile, at 17:00, Monday, Ms Anna Diamantopoulou announced she would not run for PASOK’s presidency. However, as per information she will not run for the party’s presidency. Meanwhile, Evangelos Venizelos, candidate for the party’s residency made his positions public at noon. He presented a 20-point text on PASOK and Greece, which he described a basis for a dialogue for an honor agreement among party cadres.

The Cabinet had a meeting under the Prime Minister in the morning to discuss the priorities of the government’s legislative work. Finance Minister Mr. Giorgos Alogoskoufis stressed that the government’s first priority is to submit to Parliament the draft bills concerning social security issues, tax evasion, the foundation of a Social Cohesion Fund and the new administrative framework regarding the 4th Community Support Framework (CSF). Answering questions on the previous governmental commitments, Mr. Alogoskoufis said "All our commitments will be materialized in the frameworks of the new budget". According to information, armed and security personnel salaries as well as the abolition of inheritance taxes will be put to a vote in Parliament under special amendments. A bill for property taxes will be passed. In reference to heating oil, according to the same sources the government is considering that consumers can get in banks the sum of the special tax retained with only the presentation of the invoice. Coming out from Maximos Mansion, Foreign Minister Mrs. Dora Bakoyianni stressed that all governmental priorities were discussed and will be submitted soon to Parliament.

Sources: ΝΕΤ-ΝΕΤ 105.8

The discussion on the social security issue is starting within the next 10 days. Invitations will be sent to political parties and other social associates while the framework of changes suggested by the Analytis Competent Commission will also be submitted. State Minister Mr. Theodoros Rousopoulos excluded the possibility of a reduction in national pensions and of an increase in retirement age. A list of 150 categories of heavy and unhealthy professions is also going to be discussed. People occupying heavy and unhealthy positions will be possibly been provided the right of early retirement. According to information, many professions will be included in the list while others will be excluded from the list.

PASOK party leader, George Papandreou met with the GSEE board this morning. After the meeting, GSEE president, Yiannis Panagopoulos said that Mr. Papandreou was the first to respond to GSEE invitation and discuss labor issues in view of elections and Thessaloniki International Fair, the traditional stand for commitments and announcements. We have given a 15-point questionnaire, centered on working class income, labour relations and social insurance, to all parties calling them to give their response, stressed Mr. Panagopoulos.
Mr. Papandreou presented his party’s general policies, which are compatible with unions’ claims and made clear that he will make specific announcements at the Thessaloniki International Fair said the GSEE president. He also underlined that Papandreou will respect free collective negotiations and will serve politically for increases in incomes and pensions. Mr. Panagopoulos announced a demonstration against anti-popular policies to be held in Thessaloniki on Saturday at 18:00. DAKE representative, Mr. Poupakis did not attend the meeting.
Mr. Papandreou is to deliver a speech on women’s rights in Peristeri this evening.

SYRIZA president, Alekos Alavanos visited HSAP (Athens subway) premises in Piraeus this morning and had talks with employees. Mr. Alabanos spoke of a sad picture of the Prime-minister in a most miserable attempt to buy votes.

In his speech at Keratsini Municipal theater yesterday, Prime-minister, K. Karamanlis called for a strong mandate underlining that a negative vote will lead to deadlock. He committed himself not to follow the road of populism and demagogy while he made extensive reference to devastating fires in the Peloponnese, stressing that first needs of fire victims were met in the first days. He went on to say that bureaucratic procedures were overlooked and most fire victims have already received the emergency aid and a sum to replace household items while he repeated the government’s commitment for free reconstruction of the houses that have burned down. Furthermore, K. Karamanlis expressed optimism that after this experience Elia, Arkadia, Lakonia, Messinia, Korinthia and Eboia prefectures can be reborn and enter a new model of healthy and dynamic development.

KKE (Greek Communist Party) party continues its pre-election campaign with Secretary General Aleka Papariga’s address to Panteion University students. Ms Papariga asked from the youth to vote according to its social class at the 16 September elections. In parallel, she referred to the present situation in the sector of Education and to the policies implemented during the last years, culminating with the revision of the Constitution and Article 16. She stressed that during that period the opponent of the students’ movement was neither the "capricious" Education minister, nor the faddist Public Order minister, but the New Democracy government and PASOK’s (Socialists) policies.

The government is focusing its efforts on restoring the devastation caused by the fires in the Peloponnese, while the Fire Brigade is tackling fire rekindling. Meanwhile, a meeting was held under Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis’ chairmanship in Tripolis on Monday on the relief measures for the fire afflicted and the reconstruction of the burnt regions. "The state’s obligation does not stop with the measures we have taken for the relief of our fellow citizens and the fire hit regions. We have a lot to do to heal the wounds caused by the fires and transform the present state to a faster and more efficient," stressed Mr Karamanlis after the meeting.

Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis on Monday briefed Greece's president Karolos Papoulias on the heavy toll in lives and damage inflicted up to this time by wildfires that have swathed roughly one-third of the country since late Thursday.

Addressing Papoulias before the cameras, Karamanlis stressed that "we are shocked at this great tragedy. We all feel that we are losing our own people. The battle is still on and the task is difficult."

Main opposition PASOK leader George Papandreou cut short his address at a rally in the northern city of Serres on Friday night and after speaking for only five minutes he said he was discontinuing his election campaign and would leave to visit the wildfire-stricken regions. Papandreou also called for a minute's silence in memory of the people who lost their lives in the Taygetus region and in the prefecture of Ilia, as well as of those who have died in other parts of the country.