Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
THE PRIME MINISTER of Greece has taken to the national airwaves to warn rebel MPs that the country faces an “economic and social catastrophe” of unprecedented proportions if they do not approve his new austerity plans.
In a televised address from Athens last night, on the eve of a crucial parliamentary vote, Lucas Papademos said the Greek economy was “just a breath away from Ground Zero” and that he was looking at the Greek public “straight in the eye”.
“The social costs that comes with these measures are contained in comparison to the economic and social catastrophe which will follow if we don’t adopt them,” Bloomberg quotes him as saying.
Greek news service Ekathimerini adds that Papademos said failure to ratify the deal would ensure that Greece would default on €14.5 billion of bonds which mature next month.
“A disorderly default would set the country on a disastrous adventure,” it quotes him as saying. “It would create conditions of uncontrolled economic chaos and social explosion.
The country would be drawn into a vortex of recession, instability, unemployment and protracted misery and this would sooner or later lead the country out of the euro.
The appeals come as five members of the 48-strong cabinet quit in protest at the measures, which include cutting 15,000 public sector jobs and slashing the minimum wage by 20 per cent.
Although the parties in government notionally command a huge majority in the 300-member parliament, a number of government MPs have already pledged to vote against the proposals, while significant numbers of others have refused to disclose their intentions.
The BBC says conservative leader Antonis Samaras has ordered his party’s 83 MPs to vote in favour of the plans, saying rebels would not be nominated to run in the parliamentary elections coming in a few months’ time.
MPs begin debating the controversial measures from noon Irish time, with the final vote taking place at 10pm. Protesters are expected to convene outside the parliament from mid-afternoon to demonstrate against the latest austerity.
The proposals have been demanded by eurozone finance ministers who have refused to sign off on the latest €130 billion bailout unless Greece radically cuts its spending.
Greece’s private bondholders have also refused to write down the value of their bonds unless the government imposes the tough new measures.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Is this a wind up ?
On the other hand I’d love to have the money to buy it
Just like and share to be in with a chance to win one.
Not for me.
I couldn’t tell my boss I was late because of my watch.
Don’t see any reason there to pay 1.1m for a watch, save the money and ask someone the time, or if you can pay that type of cash for a watch why the fu*k would you care what time it is
I honestly think a finely made watch is beautiful. I feel naked if I don’t wear one on a night out. I think a watch and ring is the only jewellery a man should wear. I do have a watch fetish but have never spent any more that 500 euro on one. Any more is just silly. But sure if you are loaded why not.
I agree family guy, I wear my watch all the time and feel naked without it.
Does it have a calculator though?
And all it does is tell the time
does it have a sexy voice..??
Ill have 2
One for each wrist?
Oh yeh. I’ll be unbalanced if i don’t
Another upstart of a company.
Established no doubt, to separate new money easterners from their cash.
Well if they’re foolish with their dollars.
Maybe they deserve to be shafted.
Your a boor.
Fact are booring.
My auld Casio will do me. Best 15euro I ever spent.
I’d rather have a Veyron.
But not the cost of running it. They would financially cripple you, which is why the vast majority of those on the market have hardly been driven.
You think the running cost is why the majority of veyrons are not driven in public…?
Skin, no, not the sole reason but almost certainly a contributory factor.
Four sprung durch technik?
Time is your worst enemy, why would you pay 1.1 Million, for a watch, and half the world’s Children starving, it beggers belief.
300 watches = 1 children’s hospital
But you can’t wear the other 299 watches on your arm now can you.
Do the ladies really judge a fella by the piece on his wrist?!
To spend that much on a watch you’d have to have a piece for a head…
It’s not what’s on his wrist that they care about, it’s the distance from the wrist to the tip of the middle finger. So shallow…
I’ve got 200 of these unwrapped which can’t be sold. Like and share to be in with a chance to win one :)
Well it would also have to bring me my tea and toast up to the bed in the morning as well if I paid that price for it!!!!!!
Does it only work when tethered to an iPhone 6?
what is a power reserve function? and how is it powered?
Looks like the strap is extra!
If I could afford this I would care what time it was
Saw a watch that cost $350,000 in a shop the other day. It’s made from authentic pieces salvaged from the Titanic! Some people…
Watch yourself….
have your say