Greek Politics
Athens hopes concessions can secure review breakthrough
Amid growing indications that Athens is preparing to offer an extension of the fiscal mechanism and concessions on the tax-free threshold and pensions in order to conclude the review, Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos and European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici tried to strike a positive tone following their meeting in Brussels on Thursday.
Mitsotakis marks first year at ND helm by emphasising tax cut goals
In his first interview of 2017, New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis claimed that he is prepared to go against the wishes of Greece’s lenders in order to reduce taxes if he becomes prime minister.
Govt hopes for Feb review deal but opposition readies in case of snap polls
There are increasing indications from government sources that Athens has accepted it is unlikely the review will be completed in time for the January 26 Eurogroup and that a conclusion in February is more likely.
Creation of unified social security fund poses new challenge for govt
The war of words between the government and New Democracy over the ongoing review has intensified and will undoubtedly be the main political battleground in the weeks to come.
Athens eyes fiscal compromise to complete programme review
The start of 2017 also marks the beginning of a new effort by the Greek government to reach an agreement with the institutions that would lead to the conclusion of the second review within the next few weeks.
Mitsotakis probes for coalition weakness after Tsakalotos letter
New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis criticised on Thursday the government’s handling of the dispute with the creditors over the pension bonus, arguing that the coalition consigning Greece to further austerity.
After pension dispute with lenders, coalition faces domestic unease
Opposition parties pressed the government on Tuesday to make public the letter sent by Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos to the institutions to smooth over the row that broke out after the government decided to grant pensioners a 617-million-euro Christmas bonus from the excess surplus produced in 2016.
Dispute over handouts drags on, allowing tension with creditors to rise
The Greek government looks set to respond to the institutions’ apprehension about Greek commitment to the programme and its fiscal targets after Christmas, according to reports on Friday.
Tsipras mixes rhetoric as review conclusion demands political decisions
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras continued to issue mixed messages on Wednesday: On the one hand, he defended his decision on the pension bonus despite his government frantic efforts to avoid this delaying short term debt relief, while on the other he insisted that the review could be concluded by the end of January and that talk of snap elections is “nonsense.”
Poll suggests scepticism about deal with lenders as Tsipras ponders options
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras continued to focus on his domestic audience on Tuesday, when he visited Crete to hold a meeting with local farmers, but there is no getting away from the problems facing his government due to the loose ends it has left in its dealings with the institutions.