BACKGROUND
As part of the agreement reached with the the rest of the eurozone on Sunday, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras Tsipras pledged to implement radical reforms to ensure the Greek oligarchy finally makes a fair contribution. The tax status of Greek shipping magnates has been a particular point of contention during Greece’s fraught negotiations with its creditors. Under a provision written into the Greek constitution half a century ago, the government is forbidden from taxing what the ship owners earn abroad, a hallmark of the political influence these oligarchs have enjoyed for decades. In recent weeks, European leaders have urged Greece to shift more of the country’s financial burden onto the super rich. Read more >>
THE CARTOON
The cartoon by Mac from The Daily Mail shows a super-rich Greek oligarch on his yacht, which is moored at the end of a long jetty leading to his sumptuous villa. He's reading about the 'Greek cuts' in the newspaper, and tells his maid to fetch him a dictionary because he doesn't know the meaning of the word 'tax' (since, we assume, he has never had to pay it!)
