Excitement at the return of the Greek state television after closure – Reuters Spain

By Karolina Tagaris

ATHENS (Reuters) – Employees of state television ERT Greece melted Thursday emotional hugs the first broadcast channel after it was closed two years ago in one of the most drastic measures of the previous government

<. /> span>

The prime minister left Alexis Tsipras, who is struggling to come to terms with the Union European and International Monetary Fund to get money in exchange for reforms, he had called the closure of ERT as a “large wound” in the rescue of his country.

Tsipras made the reopening of the television one of its major priorities their efforts to roll back the cuts demanded by lenders.

Employees tears gathered on the premises in the early hours of Thursday while presenters were preparing to present its first program in the morning. Before the program, the channel showed pictures of landscapes and famous monuments of the country while the national anthem sounded.

” It’s a special day for all Greeks, for philhellenes, Greece lovers and for lovers of freedom of information, “said the presenter Nikos Aggelidis at program startup. “We’re nervous. We’re very excited,” he said.

ERT, which cost 300 million euros a year, it was replaced by a channel of much lower profile called Nerit, which is expected to merge or be absorbed by ERT.

Workers this week rose to the top of the headquarters of the channel to remove the letters “N” and “I” of the logo.

The match Tsipras, Syriza, referred to the reopening as “a great victory for democracy “. To celebrate the return of the canal was planned a concert in the evening at its headquarters.

© Thomson Reuters 2015 All rights reserved.