Greek Politics
New bribe claims likely to poison Greek politics further ahead of presidential vote
Fresh claims of attempts to bribe opposition MPs ahead of February’s presidential vote have surfaced in Greek politics but there are doubts about whether they are well-founded and if they will have any discernable impact.
Lack of troika deal leaves Greek coalition looking at bailout extension
Hopes that a second round of talks between Greece and the troika in Paris would bring about a swift conclusion to the programme review were dashed on Wednesday when negotiations ended without any significant agreement.
Coalition hopes it will have more than just Paris at the end of troika talks
Greek government officials go into two days of talks with troika representatives in Paris on Tuesday that are likely to be decisive in determining the future of the coalition.
Brewing rivalry between Venizelos and Papandreou threatens to unsettle fragile PASOK
An attempt to rejuvenate PASOK may be over before it has even begun in earnest after a fresh disagreement between party leader Evangelos Venizelos and his predecessor George Papandreou, which could also have damaging consequences for the ruling coalition.
Uncertainty feeding tension within SYRIZA as well as Greek government
The failure to reach an agreement with the troika has increased tension within the government but as the possibility of early elections and a SYRIZA victory gets closer, the opposition party is also beginning to show signs of fatigue.
Stalled troika talks stretching Greek coalition cohesion to limits
The lack of progress in Greece’s talks with the troika and the possibility that the government will not clinch an agreement for a secure exit to its bailout at the end of the year is increasing tension within the coalition.
Probe into LAOS leader could spark contest for party's voters
The future of Giorgos Karatzaferis, the leader of the ultranationalist Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS), has been but in doubt after it emerged that he is a suspect in a bribery case involving military equipment.
Tsipras bolsters ties with Europe’s rising leftists but also looks beyond
For the last couple of years, SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras has described what seemed like a leftist pipedream: The uniting of left-wing political forces on the eurozone periphery. Now, he is at the forefront of trying to turn this into reality.
Education dispute opens up new front for coalition at sensitive time
Already plagued by a series of problems, the government has found itself fighting on another front over the past few days due to a conflict over the handling of the tertiary education system.
Troika piles pressure on coalition by insisting on key actions to conclude review
The size of the government’s task in concluding the current troika review within the next few weeks was revealed on Tuesday, with 19 prior actions – many of which entail major reforms – still having to be completed.