(8 Apr 2011)
1. Marianthi Politou entering apartment building and going up unfinished staircase towards her third floor apartment
2. Close-up of Politou's feet on staircase, exposed pipes in background
3. Low shot of Politou looking at papers from bank
4. Close-up of papers
5. Reverse shot of Politou looking at papers
6. SOUNDBITE (Greek) Marianthi Politou (homeowner with two loans that have floating interest rates and that will be affected by European Central Bank interest rate increase):
"Until now we could cover the expense because there had been no increase. On the contrary, there were reductions. But now, we will have a problem with the increase. We will be able to pay our loan, but beyond that, we won't be able to afford anything else"
7. Wide of Politou in her kitchen
8. Politou rinsing dish in sink
9. SOUNDBITE (Greek) Marianthi Politou:
"Surely I will have to work as well so that we will be able to make ends meet, as long as I'm able to find a job. The situation is so bad that I won't. It will be difficult to find a job"
10. Pan left of Athens Stock Exchange foyer with ticker scrolling
11. Close-up of ticker
12. Wide of economist Vangelis Agapitos
13. Close-up of Agapitos' eyes
14. Close-up of Agapitos' typing on keyboard
15. SOUNDBITE (English) Vangelis Agapitos, Economist:
"The interest rate is good for Europe because inflationary pressures are mounting because of the commodity increases. However for a country that is struggling with its deficit and is struggling with its high debt, total debt, it's certainly another burden that has to be borne by the Greek government and the Greek people."
16. Pan left of ticker
17. Agapitos looking at Athens Stock Exchange chart on computer
18. Close-up of chart showing spike up at time of European Central Bank announcement of interest rate hike
19. Wide of Athens Stock Exchange foyer
20. SOUNDBITE (English) Vangelis Agapitos, Economist (answering question about whether Portugal's bailout request would affect Greece):
"I don't see a direct correlation. There is enough funds both to save Portugal, Ireland as well as Greece. I don't see any particular problem because of the addition of Portugal into this mechanism."
21. Wide exterior of Athens Stock Exchange building with EU flag in foreground
STORYLINE
Marianthi Politou has already been affected by Greece's economic crisis.
Her husband, the family's only bread winner, is a public servant whose wages were cut as part of the government's drastic austerity measures to cut spending and waste.
Now, after Thursday's announcement of a European Central Bank rate hike, Politou fears her family's payments on two home loans with floating interest rates will make it even harder to make ends meet.
Politou said the family took out the loans in 2001 when rates were dropping.
They are still making nearly 500 euros a month (700 US dollars) in loan payments.
The European Central Bank's quarter-point increase will raise that amount.
The mother of two said there is no money to complete the construction of the building where she lives, resulting in a climb up an unfinished staircase to her third floor apartment. There is no elevator and pipes are exposed on unfinished walls.
Politou said she would probably have to look for a job to supplement the household's income, but fears the dire financial situation in Greece will make it difficult to find any employment.
He added that Portugal's request for a bailout was expected and that there was enough EU money to rescue the country, along with Ireland and Greece.
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