MacroPolis

Govt sets out fire compensation scheme in first step to overcome destruction

The government has set out a three-step process for helping the fire-stricken areas of Greece recover from this summer’s devastating wildfires, starting with an immediate compensation programme that New Democracy hopes will help it deflect some of the criticism regarding the response to the blazes, particularly in Evia.

Mitsotakis apology for wildfires gets sceptical reception

An apology issued by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for the management of the wildfires which continue to burn across parts of Greece has been greeted with extreme scepticism by the opposition, as public disbelief and anger continue to mount.

Anger over wildfires grows as PM prepares lines of defence

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his government are coming under greater pressure by the day as the authorities struggle to contain and extinguish wildfires in Greece, particularly on the island of Evia, where more than 45,000 hectares of land has been burnt since the blaze began there last week.

Politicians have commissioned, and largely ignored, multiple reports on wildfires

By: Georgia Nakou

In February 2019, the then leader of the opposition Kyriakos Mitsotakis welcomed the publication of an expert committee report on the management of forest fires in Greece, calling its recommendations “a blueprint for the steps we will follow”.

PM sets criticism aside, highlights unprecedented conditions behind fires

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made a televised address on Thursday night in which he stressed that authorities are prioritising saving lives over protecting property and nature as Greece battles dozens of wildfires, including a large blaze north of Athens.

Criticism of authorities' response intensifies as wildfires continue to rage

A number of large wildfires continue to burn across Greece, threatening inhabited areas and piling the pressure on the country’s civil defence mechanisms and the political leadership.

PM prioritises saving lives as govt fire strategy comes under more scrutiny

A wildfire that broke out on Tuesday north of Athens has put the government’s ability to tackle such natural disasters under further scrutiny after New Democracy promised a more professional approach than its predecessor, SYRIZA.

After wildfires, concern about power supply sparks hot political debate

As Greece braces for the peak of what is expected to be a record-breaking heatwave, public calls to limit power usage have prompted a fierce response from opposition parties to the state of the government’s planning for extreme weather events.

Wildfires rekindle longstanding political battle as heatwave forces agenda change

The annual political clash over the response to wildfires in Greece began in earnest this weekend as blazes raged in various parts of Greece, particularly Achaia and Rhodes.

Govt ploughs on with reform bills as politicians' wealth declarations draw attention

Parliament has been voting on some of the government’s reform bills but the political and media attention has mostly been focussed on MPs’ annual derivation of wealth declarations.