Greek Politics
PM tries to contain Covid confusion as protests on education and lockdowns intensify
After a rough start to the week, which saw a cacophony of statements by government ministers and experts culminate in the announcement of a strict lockdown on Athens, PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis gave an extended interview to Skai TV’s evening news in which he sought to put his government’s messaging back on track.
PM tightens lockdown, braces for economic and political impact
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced on Tuesday that a stricter lockdown will be imposed from Thursday in Attica as Greece tries to avoid a new, damaging wave of coronavirus.
Impending lockdown decision highlights cabinet tensions, casts unflattering spotlight on experts
The government’s messaging over Covid-19 has fallen into disarray, as the looming threat of a stricter lockdown has opened up divisions among cabinet members, experts and interest groups.
Govt's management of Covid-19 response challenged again after latest measures, PM’s trip
The image of competence and sensible management of the coronavirus crisis which the Greek government has been trying to project since the early days of the crisis took a major hit over the past few days.
University bill a source of friction but govt unlikely to be ruffled
There has been further reaction to the government’s education bill this week as Education Minister Niki Kerameus came under more criticism from the opposition parties.
Unease over political pressure on experts accompanies rumours of stricter lockdown
The worsening epidemiological data in the greater Athens area as well as in the cities of Thessaloniki and Patra are heightening speculation that further restrictions are about to be introduced to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Minister's clash with catering sector highlights pitfalls ahead as pandemic squeezes economy
Georgiadis lashed out after an association representing the businesses in the sector, POESE, announced plans to hold a protest on February 10 and to hand over to the PM’s Office the keys to businesses that have been forced to shut down.
Overseas ballots in spotlight as govt accelerates voter enrolment campaign
The subject of the overseas vote has emerged once again as a hot topic in Greece, after recent reports linked the planned enrolment campaign to New Democracy’s political strategy for the next elections.
Govt concerned by virus mutations, encouraged by increase in vaccination rate
Having seen a decline on Covid-19 numbers over the last couple of weeks, paving the way for secondary schools to re-open on Monday, the government is now on the lookout for any threat posed by mutations of the virus.
Stricter Covid-19 restrictions mulled, but Greeks warming to vaccine
The government was due to announce on Friday afternoon whether Covid-19 restrictions in some parts of Greece, including Attica, have to be stepped up due to a higher spread and more instances of virus mutations.