Greek Politics
Coalition hopes for respite from ex-minister's claims as probes launched
The government will be hoping for some respite from the allegations made by ex-Citizens Protection Minister Yiannis Panousis earlier this week after two preliminary investigations were launched into the claims on Friday.
First general strike an awkward but telling moment for Tsipras
Alexis Tsipras experienced his first general strike as prime minister, rather than opposition leader, on Thursday when the private and public sector unions GSEE and ADEDY brought thousands of people out onto the streets of Athens to protest the latest round of measures.
SYRIZA tries to contain impact of ex-minister's grave allegations
The government is in a battle to contain the impact from allegations by former Citzens’ Protection Minister Yiannis Panousis that some SYRIZA members were in regular contact with jailed members of terrorist groups and tried to arrange for beneficial legislation to be passed, even allegedly threatening the ex-minister’s life.
Internal and external difficulties with measures expose coalition's weaknesses
Concerns about the political and technical limitations of the second SYRIZA-Independent Greeks coalition are coming to the fore after it emerged Athens will not be in a position to claim the next 2-billion-euro sub-tranche from its lenders at Monday’s Eurogroup.
Some movement on Greece's name dispute but solution still long way off
The name dispute with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) remains one of the key unresolved matters in Greece’s diplomatic agenda but there appears to be movement on the issue at the moment.
Meimarakis seen as clear frontrunner with New Democracy leadership vote approaching
With just over two weeks left until the first, and possibly only, round of New Democracy’s leadership election, current party president Evangelos Meimarakis seems a clear favourite to win the vote.
Athens ticking off prior actions one by one as EU keeps close watch
European Economic and Monetary Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici is the latest EU official to visit Greece and check on the government’s progress in completing the tasks it has been set by lenders before the first review of the bailout programme later this month.
Coalition starts to feel backlash from latest round of measures
The government is expected to unveil a second multi-bill on Thursday as it aims to catch up with the list of prior actions it needs to carry out to receive the next bailout tranche of 2 billion euros and then move on to the first review of the third bailout in November.
Passing of broadcasting bill introduces new challenges for coalition
The visit of the quadriga as well as a new round of EU talks on the refugee crisis overshadowed the passing of legislation in Greek Parliament on Saturday that introduces new criteria for the issuing of broadcasting licenses.
Tsipras takes big risk by axing public revenues chief Savvaidou
Alexis Tsipras took a major political gamble on Thursday by forcing general secretary for public revenues Katerina Savvaidou to leave her position, despite her insistence that she would not bow to the government's demands.