Subject: Athens Macedonian News Agency: News in English, 17-06-09 From: "HR-Net News Distribution Manager" CONTENTS [01] Parliament approves prior actions with votes of government coalition [02] Mitsotakis reiterates his call for elections during prior actions debate [03] Percentage of closed shops in central Athens up to 28 pct in early 2017 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- [01] Parliament approves prior actions with votes of government coalition The Greek parliament approved on Friday the last batch of prior actions on pensions, collective labour agreements and the tax-free threshold demanded by the country's lenders to conclude the second program review with the votes of the government coalition. In a roll-call vote requested by the main opposition New Democracy, the new legislation gathered 153 votes while 84 were against (ND, Golden Dawn, Potami, Centrists' Union). The Democratic Coalition and the Communist Party left the session before the vote. Two amendments on funding of political parties and electronic auctions were approved by the majority with rapporteurs stating the party's position during the debate. [02] Mitsotakis reiterates his call for elections during prior actions debate Main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated his call for an election on Friday, saying his party is the only one that can implement the changes required in Greece. "Give a solution. Call elections. Only through elections can we have a government with momentum and credibility, determined to make the changes the country needs. The country needs a new government that will be able to demand from our partners the implementation of their commitments on the debt which they agreed on in November 2012," he said during a debate in parliament on the prior actions demanded by the country's creditors. "I call on Mr. Tsipras to prioritize the responsibilities attached to his position and remind him that history judges us in retrospect, but society judges us every day," he added. He also accused the government of "systematically scorning" parliament, saying that "nothing can stop a government that doesn't have the basic sensitivity and does not show respect for Parliament's institutions and rules." [03] Percentage of closed shops in central Athens up to 28 pct in early 2017 The percentage of closed shops in downtown Athens grew by half percentage point to 28 pct in the first months of 2017, reversing a decling trend which prevailed in the second half of 2016 and returned to September 2015 levels, Hellenic Confederation of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ESEE) said. Vasilis Korkidis, president of ESEE, in comments made to Austrian TV, said the percentage of closed shops was almost unchanged in central shopping areas of Athens, it improved in regions of medium and high income and deteriorated in areas of low incomes. More specifically, in the commercial triangle of the Athens center, the percentage of closed shops was 23 pct, up from 21 pct in 2016, followed by the Kolonaki area (unchanged at 25 pct), followed by the Exarhia area (35 pct) and central roads such as Stadiou, Panepistimiou and Academias (33 pct) which showed a slight improvement.