Oct 4 (Reuters) - Greece's socialist PASOK party won general elections on Sunday with a promise to revive the ailing economy and crack down on corruption. Here are the party's key election campaign pledges:
ECONOMY
* In its first 100 days in office, PASOK plans to pass five bills to revive the economy with a 3 billion euro ($4.4 billion) fiscal stimulus package. To be included are:
- Above-inflation wage increases for public sector workers and a one-off benefit for low-income earners.
- Reform of the tax system to redistribute income towards the poor and increase taxes on capital and dividends.
- Closure of corporate tax loopholes and a cut in tax rates on re-invested corporate profits.
- A one-year freeze on the prices charged by state-controlled utilities.
- A one-year suspension of bank debt obligations for crisis-stricken companies.
- Direct government funding and loan guarantees for businesses, without bank mediation.
- An increase in unemployment benefit to 70 percent of the minimum wage from 55 percent, and tougher inspection to enforce labour laws.
* PASOK has separately pledged to:
- Spend at least 4 pct of GDP on public investment.
- Renegotiate past privatisation deals and drop plans for others.
- Review government spending, particularly on defence, to get the budget deficit below a 3-percent euro area ceiling after a period of at least two years.
GOVERNMENT/ACCOUNTABILITY
* The socialists, themselves plagued by scandals when last in power from 1993 to 2004, have pledged to fight corruption. All government decisions will be published on the Internet to improve transparency, party officials will be banned from holding government positions, and vacant administration posts will be advertised publicly.
SOCIAL SECURITY
* PASOK wants to shore up Greece's inefficient pension system by reducing the number of pension funds, without cutting any benefits.
SECURITY/IMMIGRATION/EDUCATION
* PASOK has pledged to crack down on illegal immigration, while at the same time granting citizenship to all immigrant children born in the country. The socialists also promised local voting rights to immigrants with more than five years of residence.
* PASOK plans to reintroduce police foot patrols to boost security, create a new Citizens' Protection Ministry and raise government spending on public education to 5 percent of GDP by the end of its term.
(Reporting by the Athens bureau; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
($1=.6879 Euro)
((For main story please click on; for stories on the Greek election click on)) Keywords: GREECE ELECTION/POLICIES (harry.papachristou@reuters.com; +30 210 3376455, Reuters Messaging:harry.papachristou.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
ECONOMY
* In its first 100 days in office, PASOK plans to pass five bills to revive the economy with a 3 billion euro ($4.4 billion) fiscal stimulus package. To be included are:
- Above-inflation wage increases for public sector workers and a one-off benefit for low-income earners.
- Reform of the tax system to redistribute income towards the poor and increase taxes on capital and dividends.
- Closure of corporate tax loopholes and a cut in tax rates on re-invested corporate profits.
- A one-year freeze on the prices charged by state-controlled utilities.
- A one-year suspension of bank debt obligations for crisis-stricken companies.
- Direct government funding and loan guarantees for businesses, without bank mediation.
- An increase in unemployment benefit to 70 percent of the minimum wage from 55 percent, and tougher inspection to enforce labour laws.
* PASOK has separately pledged to:
- Spend at least 4 pct of GDP on public investment.
- Renegotiate past privatisation deals and drop plans for others.
- Review government spending, particularly on defence, to get the budget deficit below a 3-percent euro area ceiling after a period of at least two years.
GOVERNMENT/ACCOUNTABILITY
* The socialists, themselves plagued by scandals when last in power from 1993 to 2004, have pledged to fight corruption. All government decisions will be published on the Internet to improve transparency, party officials will be banned from holding government positions, and vacant administration posts will be advertised publicly.
SOCIAL SECURITY
* PASOK wants to shore up Greece's inefficient pension system by reducing the number of pension funds, without cutting any benefits.
SECURITY/IMMIGRATION/EDUCATION
* PASOK has pledged to crack down on illegal immigration, while at the same time granting citizenship to all immigrant children born in the country. The socialists also promised local voting rights to immigrants with more than five years of residence.
* PASOK plans to reintroduce police foot patrols to boost security, create a new Citizens' Protection Ministry and raise government spending on public education to 5 percent of GDP by the end of its term.
(Reporting by the Athens bureau; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
($1=.6879 Euro)
((For main story please click on; for stories on the Greek election click on)) Keywords: GREECE ELECTION/POLICIES (harry.papachristou@reuters.com; +30 210 3376455, Reuters Messaging:harry.papachristou.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2009. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.