Agora
Posts in Society
The joke's on Greece
A Greek businessman, a Greek minister, a Greek opposition MP and a German official go to an economic conference. The German ends up being the only one that defends the Greek position. It may sound like a bad joke but it is a sad reality.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Politics (407), Society (149), Greece (519)
Are we taking Greeks' devotion to the euro for granted?
Political developments around the western world, from the victory for Brexit to Donald Trump being elected US president, have been a rude awakening for politicians, commentators and pollsters who did not see this shift in voter behaviour coming.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (289), Politics (407), Economy (341), Society (149), Greece (519)
Obama ends with big picture amid dwindling hope
What could Greece have expected from the visit of a US leader in the final days of his presidency, before he is replaced by someone who appears to be the antithesis in personal and policy terms? Not much. What did it get from Barack Obama’s brief stay in Athens? Probably more than it expected.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (289), Politics (407), Economy (341), Society (149), Greece (519)
Making the extraordinary ordinary
It was perhaps the most fitting finale that the people of Lesvos did not receive the Nobel Peace Prize earlier this month. Not because they did not deserve it for showing such dignity and solidarity in these selfish and unsettling times, but because the help, warmth and care that they did provide was done so selflessly.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Europe (289), Society (149), Greece (519)
Row with church too much for Tsipras's fragile coalition
Whether his prime motivation was to save his own skin or prevent the government from becoming embroiled in a public squabble it would be unable to win, Defence Minister Panos Kammenos sprang into action last week and assured Archbishop Ieroynmos, the head of the Orthodox Church of Greece, that plans to change religion classes in schools would not go ahead without an extensive discussion.
Contributor: Nick Malkoutzis
Categories: Society (149), Greece (519)