Greek Politics
Leaders' debate over wildfires puts spotlight on govt credibility
In the first party leaders’ debate of the new political season, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis mounted a defence of his government’s response to this summer’s forest fires, arguing that limited mistakes were made and that efforts are already underway to repair the damage and improve Greece’s capability to deal with such challenges.
Govt announces stricter measures for unvaccinated to curb autumn pandemic wave
Growing pressure on the health system and the threat of a new wave of Covid-19 infections as holidaymakers return to the cities have prompted the Greek government to announce a new raft of public health measures for the autumn.
Fresh reshuffle speculation as ND centres on migration threat, response
As normal political activity resumes following Parliament’s summer recess, attention is turning to Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s speech at the Thessaloniki International Fair on September 11, with the local media pricing in a cabinet reshuffle shortly before or after his appearance in the northern port city.
ND set to carry Covid, wildfires baggage into September
In his first press briefing since being appointed as the government’s new spokesman, Yiannis Economou revealed on Thursday that a new framework aimed at limiting the spread of Covid in the autumn would be presented next week.
Warnings of post-holiday Covid surge, continuing wildfires store up risk for ND
The epidemiological situation in major resort areas across Greece is worsening, leading frontline doctors to warn of a tough winter ahead unless vaccination levels are boosted.
ND anxious about impact Afghanistan tumble will have on migration
Kyriakos Mitsotakis chaired a meeting of the Government Council for Foreign Affairs and Defence (KYSEA) on Wednesday as the prime minister and his administration try to prepare for the potential fallout from the rise of the Taliban in Afghanistan.
Wildfires and pandemic set political agenda as parties prepare for return to business
The suppression of the previous week’s catastrophic wildfires and the traditional end of the Greek summer holiday season is giving the country’s political forces an opportunity to regroup and prepare the agenda for the return to business.
After impact of fires, PM tweaks team, with focus on communication
After facing journalists on Thursday to defend his government’s handling of the recent wildfires, as well as its overall record, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Friday a small shake-up in some key posts, mostly related to the team around him.
Mitsotakis faces press in attempt to defuse criticism over wildfire handling
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis gave an extended press conference on Thursday as part of what is seen as a concerted effort by the government to address the criticism it has faced over the management of the catastrophic forest fires of the prior week.
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.