It appears that Greek employers are not seeking employees anymore, nor are the Greek unemployed – mainly young people – looking for work.

Two lawmakers who were part of the governing coalition were on their way out of their respective parties.

Illegal cigarette trading is growing considerably – 13.2 percent of cigarettes consumed in April 2012 were not destined for the Greek market.

PASOK guarantees the stability of Greece’s coalition government, its embattled leader Evangelos Venizelos said.

Greece is set to seal an agreement with the troika this week on a 13.5-billion-euro austerity package but the two sides still have ground to cover.

Violence and fear are on the rise, according to the police’s emergency service, which has observed a sharp spike in the number of calls.

The Foreign Ministry advised Greek citizens to disembark a Finnish boat trying to break an Israeli naval blockade of the Gaza Strip.

Rallies held in central Athens to protest a new austerity package being hammered out by the government and the troika were overshadowed by the death of a 65-year-old demonstrator.

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras stated the case at a European Union leaders’ summit for Greece receiving its next bailout tranche in full and as soon as possible.

PASOK will hold a make-or-break congress in February, when its president, Evangelos Venizelos, will attempt to shape the Socialist group in his vision.