Last Monday, the Maximos Mansion sent the media a highly unusual non-paper. This is information that journalists can use, but without any obligation on the - always anonymous - source that leaks it.
Non papers are used for political or economic issues. For the first time it was information for the secular columns of newspapers or the TV newsreels. We just learned that Mr. Mitsotakis and his wife were guests of the Hollywood business tycoon and producer, Barry Diller and his wife, a top designer, Diane von Furstenberg, who are on holiday in Aegean Sea. And they found themselves at a table with Jeff Bezos of Amazon, the Tom Hanks, his wife, Rita Wilson and a journalist from CNN.
There was not the slightest indication of discussions about business plans, investments in Greece, etc. After the non paper was sent, what was leaked, apparently from the Maximus building, was about the size of the crayfish that were consumed.
I wrote an article, starting with Mr Bezos« exceptional tax avoidance/evasion skills and the »technological galley« conditions in his businesses. This did not go down well with the »News« who »got on my case" for my comment. I am copying part of the article:
Expected. And very logical. After the entire arsenal was exhausted... the Syriza barrel was raised. He found another context to hit on president Kyriakos. By the hand of Kouloglou, Stelara the worried, for the Novartis hoodlums. He explained to the Syriza fans all over the country what the hell this Bezos is, with whom President Kyriakos has met - and of course it's a shame for him (Kyriakos) since the other one is such a bastard.
Here's how Kouloglou starts the unveiling of Bezos... «Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is one of the richest people on the planet. But in 2007 and 2011 he paid no tax at all, using accounting tricks. In 2011 he even got a $1,500 government grant for his son, who is a student!».
And never mind that there are workplace accidents at Amazon.
Stelio, it's a shame, really. Shame and disgrace actually. I didn't see that one coming. No, we can talk about it. But have they no shame? With Bezos? Bezos?;
In my article, I was not accusing Mr. Mitsotakis of having a meeting with Bezos, but of having a private meeting without a political-economic object.. I was writing verbatim:
So maybe the non paper made the ladies of the other nice, oligarchic families of the country shut up, because they haven't eaten with Bezos or Tom Hanks like Mrs.Mareva, but what do we care?; Why does it concern the ordinary citizen, intubated with his daily problems, what did Diane von Furstenberg eat?;
There were no developments during the week, apart from the news that in Bezos« companies an algorithm makes the layoffs, often unfairly targeting employees. But suddenly, over the weekend yesterday and the day before yesterday, Maximos started leaking that at the meeting in Antiparos the menu did not only include »carpaccio of coltfish, calamari, scallops, crayfish with barley and many gluten-free dishes", but also business plans and investments in Greece:
According to Proto Thema, at the meeting it was decided to shoot Mama Mia no3 in Crete, while Vima had a title: «The Antiparos meeting and the... menu of investments» and a subtitle:
The presence of Jeff Bezos in the country and the dinner with the Mitsotakis couple, which included business discussions - The scenarios for film productions and a satellite mobile telephony network.
Why did they wait a week to leak it to us? Obviously because they found out after the fact. More honestly, the Weekend News devoted a full page to Bezos about his business, plans and wealth, without the slightest hint, at least of blatant tax evasion.
Because the latter is one of the main causes of today's glaring social inequalities, I am more interested in the latter. The tributes to Bezos' undoubted business acumen are welcome, but why is it glossed over that two years after the US government subsidized him with 1500$, Bezos bought the Washington Post?;
To the money-blinded members of Jeff Bezos« Greek fun club, I dedicate the main photo from the big campaign in the USA to tax our hero. The campaign is entitled »Tax me if you can".
By Stelios Kouloglou
