Greek Politics
Government distances itself from ELSTAT case as European Commission wades in
The government attempted on Wednesday to distance itself from the controversy surrounding the latest prosecution of the former head of the Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), Andreas Georgiou, over Greece’s 2009 deficit figure.
Mitsotakis looks for fresh start as PASOK and Potami ponder way forward
After moving the party to new and cheaper headquarters a few days ago, New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis is aiming to convey the message of renewal directly to voters.
Apart from bailout review, plenty to keep Tsipras busy in autumn
With the summer holidays winding down, focus in Greece is gradually shifting to the varied tasks that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will face this autumn, both domestically and on the European and international stages.
Mitsotakis tends to internal disputes ahead of renewed assault on Tsipras
New Democracy moved into new headquarters on Thursday in what its leader, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, hopes will be a move with high symbolic, as well as practical value.
Tsipras tries to push snap election talk off political agenda
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras tried on Tuesday to rule out the possibility of snap elections, or at least remove the subject from the current political agenda.
Final list of bidders confirmed ahead of contentious auction for TV permits
The final list of companies that will be competing for the four national TV licenses on the digital network that the government is due to put to tender later this month was announced on Thursday.
Coalition seeks to quash concerns about complications with Hellenikon development
Reports that the Culture Ministry has launched a bid to categorise almost the entire area of the former Athens airport, known as Hellenikon, as an archaeological site, a move that could jeopardise the bid to redevelop the largely abandoned space, appear to have highlighted SYRIZA’s unpredictably, although the government insists that the impact of the move has been exaggerated.
New Democracy latches on to SYRIZA confusion over law and order
The government’s discomfort at having to take on activists has become increasingly obvious this week, providing New Democracy with ammunition for its attacks on the coalition on the “law and order” front.
Political leaders weigh up next moves in August lull
As legislative activity dies down for August, and before the commotion that will undoubtedly accompany the next bailout review in the autumn, leaders’ moves on the domestic political chessboard are attracting attention.
Factionalism rears its head in build-up to SYRIZA's congress
SYRIZA’s many sides, as well as its sometimes complex inner workings, were highlighted this week after police in Thessaloniki cleared three squats in the northern city that were being used to house refugees and migrants.