Until even yesterday, the government was withdrawing provisions and submitting new ones in a bid to ensure its deputies back the legislation and to avoid alienating hundreds of mayors who have angrily opposed the proposed reforms, Kathimerini writes.

In an attempt to win the backing of all 155 lawmakers of the 2-party coalition, the government made several concessions withdrawing or altering certain provisions (e.g. one related to disciplinary action for mayors exceeding their budget limits), Capital.gr says.

The last-minute changes included the withdrawal of an amendment that would have given the 2,656 former employees of the defunct state broadcaster ERT a larger compensation package than other state company workers. Administrative Reform Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis introduced several changes including the exemption from a mobility scheme for civil servants of municipal police officers employed in municipalities with fewer than 5,000 residents.

Earlier yesterday, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras announced through a video message a VAT reduction on Greek food catering services (restaurants, hotel restaurants, cafeterias, etc.). VAT will be reduced from 23% to 13% starting on August 1st.

During his message, the Premier also said that the decision by the troika of lenders to adopt the suggestion for lowering of the VAT during Greece’s summer season, is the first announcement of a tax decrease in Greece.

Samaras said that certain measures included in the memorandum would not be introduced in 2014, “which means that there will be no new cuts in pensions and salaries of the armed forces; nor will there be an additional tax of 0,002% on business turnover,” achievements that showed “we have “If tax evasion continues as usual, VAT will climb back to 23%. But if it works out, I am sure more reductions in unbearable taxes will follow,” the PM said.

Samaras asserted that better days are coming. “We are not resting on our laurels. We will climb up the hill and get to the very end, which is not far,” he added.

However, Kathimerini understands that the troika only agreed to the VAT reduction in the food services sector after the government agreed to cut EUR 100 million from the Defense Ministry’s arms procurement programme. Athens and the troika disagreed about what kind of hole the change in VAT would leave in public revenues. Greece’s lenders thought it would be closer to EUR 130 million but eventually gave ground.

The General National Congress, the highest legislative authority in Libya, was reportedly due to vote yesterday on a bill was proposed in December banning officials from Muammar al-Qadhafi’s regime and their associates from politics.

According to media reports, protesters gathered outside the national assembly when the vote was postponed and refused to let the lawmakers leave, before finally relenting hours later. There are also reports of protestors shooting at the speaker of the parliament, Mohammed Magarief.

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) acknowledged that peaceful protest is a fundamental right, but cautioned that “it is of utmost importance at this critical juncture of Libya’s democratic transition to ensure that the democratically elected bodies and legitimate institutions of the State are enabled to carry out their duties in the service of the people in a conducive environment and that the integrity of their decisions is preserved.”

In a news release, the Mission further said that it “strongly encourages” Libya’s political and community leaders as well as civil society activists and all Libyans, to ensure that the ongoing transition be based on the respect for the law, the democratic principles and peaceful political dialogue.

“The Libyan people have committed to democracy as an irreversible choice and all Libyans owe it to their country and their revolution to come together and ensure that the political process is not derailed,” said the Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNSMIL, Tarek Mitri.

The General National Congress is working on a legal framework necessary for free, fair, and inclusive elections of the Constituent Assembly. Mitri has said that UNSMIL is ready to assist the Libyan authorities throughout the electoral process, at the Government’s request.

The Mission is also assisting in promoting the rule of law and protecting human rights, restoring public security, countering illicit arms proliferation and coordinating international assistance.

According to protothema.gr, yesterday evening, and after many consultations on Greek Constitution and parliamentary Standing Orders, the majority (ND, PASOK, DIMAR) decided that the process be done in one sitting with 3 separate votes -one for each proposal- and a total of 7 polls.

The coalition has proposed that only former Finance Minister Giorgos Papaconstantinou be probed in connection with the handling of the Lagarde list following the revelation by prosecutors last month that the names of three of his relatives were removed from the list, Kathimerini writes.

SYRIZA wants Papaconstantinou’s successor Evangelos Venizelos, who leads PASOK, to be investigated along with the former. And the two smaller opposition parties, Independent Greeks and the Golden Dawn want former premiers George Papandreou and Lucas Papademos to be probed too. It is expected that, for each of the votes, MPs will be given ballot papers with the names of all four politicians and the charges they would face.

The participation of MPs in all 3 votes is not mandatory, but New Democracy says “we will participate to the end. There is no question of withdrawal.”

The process is expected to will begin at 10 am and the voting is expected at 6 pm.

The political frenzy surrounding the Lagarde list affair has resulted in limiting the parliamentary discussion to the process, to increasing or decreasing the number of ballot boxes and votes and losing the actual substance which is placing the blame where blame is due, political analysts have suggested.

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras said that “it is inconceivable that this was decided in the meeting of the three political leaders. The smooth functioning of parliament is being undermined and essentially we have a procedure that removes the secrecy of the vote. This has never happened before in the Greek parliament and reveals panic. Venizelos is self-incriminating himself by asking Samaras for protection. But at the same time he becomes his hostage.” Venizelos, on the other hand insists that “the perpetrator of this conspiracy against PASOK” is the main opposition party.

Finally, late yesterday tovima.gr wrote that SYRIZA is examining the possibility of withdrawing from the voting process if the majority insisted on its proposal for setting up seven polls.

This tactic, SYRIZA people maintain, waves the secrecy of the vote, in a way ‘protecting Mr. Venizelos, who main opposition would like to see investigated about his responsibility regarding the Lagarde list affair.

In an announcement, Greek Foreign Ministry said: “Our decision is consistent with our country’s longstanding position of principle on the resolution of the Middle East problem based on two states: an independent and viable Palestinian state coexisting in peace and security with the state of Israel.

With the historic developments in the wider Middle East, Greece believes that the time has come for the Israelis and Palestinians to live – as is their inviolable right – in security in their states. The two-state solution, which is described in successive UN General Assembly Resolutions, and which is reaffirmed in the draft Resolution before us, is the only solution that ensures the long-term interests of the two peoples and peace and stability in the region.

As we have often underscored, the solution to the problem cannot but be the result of negotiations between the two parties, which are responsible for resolving – realistically and in accordance with international law – all the issues of the final status. Thus, we see as extremely positive the provision of the draft resolution for the immediate and unconditional return of the two parties to the negotiation table.

We express the hope that the two parties will take advantage of this new opportunity for peacemaking and avoid any action that might wreck the climate and undermine the direct negotiations.”

The Council welcomed these “landmark” events in a statement issued to the press, after receiving a closed-door briefing on the latest developments on Tuesday from the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Somalia, Augustine Mahiga

Professor Mohammed Osman Jawari was selected as speaker of the New Federal Parliament that was inaugurated on 20 August, in an election that laid the groundwork for an imminent round of voting to appoint the Parliament’s Deputy Speakers. This, in turn, would be followed by the election of the Horn of Africa nation’s President.

Some 260 Members of Parliament have now either been sworn in or are pending imminent ratification, with 15 names still remaining before the new Somali legislature reaches its total of 275 constituents.

After decades of warfare, Somalia has been undergoing a peace and national reconciliation process, with the country’s transitional governing arrangements winding down with the implementation of the so-called Roadmap for the End of Transition.

“The members of the Council called on the new Federal Parliament to discharge its responsibilities with independence, transparently and free from undue influence or coercion,” said the statement.

They also underlined the importance of a fully functioning Parliament and that the remaining seats should be agreed and filled as quickly as possible.

In addition, the Council members urged all signatories to the so-called Roadmap for the End of Transition to continue to work together and bring a swift end to the transitional governing arrangements.

“They called on the signatories to refrain from unilateral action and to continue the process of dialogue and compromise,” the statement noted. “They underlined that Parliament should now elect a president without further delay.”

New pre-election period that followed May 6 poll intensified the dilemmas and increased the percentages of the two major parties. According to Kathimerini, opinion polls indicate that ND and SYRIZA are running neck and neck for first place, which would grant the winning party extra 50 seats in Parliament. This would be vital for forming a coalition government. Neither party is likely to win an outright majority. PASOK is expected to come in third place, with anti-bailout Independent Greeks, Democratic Left, the Communist Party and Golden Dawn also passing the 3% Parliament threshold.

According to ProtoThema.gr, unpublished polls run by political parties in recent days reflect a thriller situation in the electoral body, as the differences between ND and SYRIZA are within the limit of statistical error, while undecided voters seem exceeding 15%. This fluidity creates a climate of uncertainty before the final outcome of the elections, as most survey companies record a meager lead for ND, while others believe that the social dynamic, if expressed at the ballot box, will give the victory to SYRIZA.

For the international community, the challenge of today’s election is Greece to manage to form a government in the coming days that formulate conditions justifying some hope for the country.

According to Bloomberg, European Union and International Monetary Fund have insisted that the conditions of the EUR 130 billion bailout accord agreed in March must be accepted fully by a new government or funds will be cut off, driving Greece into bankruptcy.