March 20, 1953
MILITARY EXPENDITURE: During yesterday’s parliamentary debate on the bill on emergency economic measures to balance the 1952-1953 budget, there was much discussion on military expenditure, prompted by a speech by the leader of the Liberals, Mr Sophocles Venizelos, who asked for a reduction of 70,000 men in the armed forces. The prime minister, Field Marshal Alexandros Papagos, rejected the opposition’s proposal to reduce military expenditure (…), drawing his arguments from the fact that Soviet satellite states are currently building up their military might, indicating a need to maintain at least the present strength of the Greek military. MITSOTAKIS: The minority rapporteur Mr Constantine Mitsotakis accused the government of not implementing a populist policy, but of trying to safeguard the rights of those who were economically powerful. PAPANDREOU: The leader of the Democratic Socialist Party, Mr George Papandreou, said he agreed that the Greek armed forces should not be downsized, but criticized the government’s economic measures. NATIONAL RADIO FOUNDATION: Yesterday afternoon, the new board of directors of the National Radio Foundation (EIR) was sworn in. Following a speech by the minister to the prime minister, the board elected Mr M. Stassinopoulos, a member of the Council of State, as its chairman, and Eleni Vlachou-Loundra as his deputy.
