Cabinet tackles court backlog - The Best from Greece

The coalition government will review sweeping changes to the court process at a cabinet meeting – in the first of several major reforms expected under interim Prime Minister Lukas Papademos.

 

The law would introduce fast-track divorces, longer court working hours and other changes designed to clear a backlog and speed up the settlement of tax disputes tied up in court that are costing the government billions of euros.

 

Parliament would vote on the legislation next month, before the assembly is dissolved for a spring general election. Other pressing reforms include changes in licensing rules for so-called closed shop professions and restructuring of near-bankrupt professional pension funds.

 

The reforms have all been requested by the troika of EU-IMF lenders.

 

Some of the planned changes are under threat by disagreements among the parties supporting Papademos' coalition, but the judicial overhaul is expected to be pushed through as is it not directly linked to economic austerity and have received broad backing from senior judges. (Athens News/gw)