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Greek court suspends ERT broadcaster closure | Greek court suspends ERT broadcaster closure |
(35 minutes later) | |
A Greek court has suspended a government order to close state broadcaster ERT - a move that triggered mass protests in the country last week. | A Greek court has suspended a government order to close state broadcaster ERT - a move that triggered mass protests in the country last week. |
The top administrative court said ERT could resume transmission until a new national media body is set up. | The top administrative court said ERT could resume transmission until a new national media body is set up. |
The ruling came as Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and his coalition allies held crisis talks on the issue. | |
Mr Samaras, who says ERT is corrupt, had reportedly offered to restart a trimmer version of the broadcaster. | |
On Monday, the court - the Council of State - upheld Mr Samaras's plan to replace ERT with a new broadcaster later this year but backed the position of the other coalition partners that the signal must be restored in the interim. | On Monday, the court - the Council of State - upheld Mr Samaras's plan to replace ERT with a new broadcaster later this year but backed the position of the other coalition partners that the signal must be restored in the interim. |
It ordered the government to restart ERT broadcasts on a temporary basis. | It ordered the government to restart ERT broadcasts on a temporary basis. |
The case was brought by ERT's union in an attempt to block Mr Samaras's surprise move. | The case was brought by ERT's union in an attempt to block Mr Samaras's surprise move. |
The court's verdict increases pressure on Mr Samaras to row back, reports the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens. | The court's verdict increases pressure on Mr Samaras to row back, reports the BBC's Mark Lowen in Athens. |
Each side will claim victory, he adds, but in the end the unity of the government has been badly weakened. | Each side will claim victory, he adds, but in the end the unity of the government has been badly weakened. |
Mr Samaras had suggested a new, leaner, cheaper broadcaster would be established within weeks and he proposed hiring a small team to produce news programmes in the interim. | |
But this idea was rejected by his two coalition partners - Evangelos Venizelos of Pasok and Fotis Kouvelis of the Democratic Left. | |
After the emergency talks ended, Mr Venizelos said they would meet again on Wednesday to discuss a cabinet reshuffle. | |
Mr Kouvelis said all ERT channels must reopen immediately following the court ruling. | |
The row has threatened to topple the government and force Greece - which is struggling to pay its huge debts - into fresh elections. | The row has threatened to topple the government and force Greece - which is struggling to pay its huge debts - into fresh elections. |
ERT workers celebrated outside the broadcaster's headquarters after hearing the court ruling. | ERT workers celebrated outside the broadcaster's headquarters after hearing the court ruling. |
"I've been here seven nights and this is the first time I've seen people smile," said reporter Eleni Hrona. | "I've been here seven nights and this is the first time I've seen people smile," said reporter Eleni Hrona. |
However, our correspondent says there is also the recognition that later this year many will lose their jobs as a new, leaner national broadcaster is formed. | However, our correspondent says there is also the recognition that later this year many will lose their jobs as a new, leaner national broadcaster is formed. |
Meanwhile, as coalition leaders went into talks, the main opposition party Syriza held a rally in Athens' Syntagma Square to demand early elections. | Meanwhile, as coalition leaders went into talks, the main opposition party Syriza held a rally in Athens' Syntagma Square to demand early elections. |