Greek Politics
Inflation triggers political machinations, move to increase budget spending
The government is set to submit a supplementary budget that will allow it to increase spending by as much as 2 billion euros compared to the initial budget for 2022, underlining the pressure that New Democracy is under to find solutions to the cost-of-living crisis, not only to help households and businesses but also to stop the party’s slide in opinion polls.
Mitsotakis sweeps aside election talk as ND continues to suffer in polls
For the second time in a week, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has flatly denied any plans to hold snap elections or to change the electoral law yet again after his New Democracy administration adopted a form of enhanced proportional representation (PR) after the next vote, which will be held under a pure form of PR.
Government accused of complacency on food supply and price hikes
The government’s messages of reassurance over the availability and affordability of basic foodstuffs have met with strong criticism from the opposition and sections of the media.
PM focuses on high prices, food supplies as snap election option fades away
The cost-of-living crisis remains the government’s number one priority after little progress was made on containing energy prices at last week’s European Union leaders’ summit.
PM yields on energy windfall tax as govt feels strain
As his government continues to slide in the opinion polls, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has pledged to impose a windfall tax on energy companies if they make excess profits from rising bills. He also ruled out snap elections or a change to the electoral law.
New Democracy's lead narrows amid cost-of-living worries, mixed feelings over Ukraine
Price hikes are a growing source of concern for Greeks according to the latest opinion poll, which also suggests that support for the New Democracy government has slipped rapidly in the last few days.
Pressure intensifies on govt for more radical interventions in energy markets
The support package unveiled by the government last week already appears inadequate to contain the continuing surge in energy prices, leading industry and other pressure groups to join the opposition’s demand for stronger measures.
Fallout from Ukraine war being fed into calculations about next general elections
Comments by a government official appear to have doused expectations of snap elections before the summer, but speculation remains as lively as ever about an early vote later this year, possibly accompanied by another change to the electoral system.
Tsipras berates govt over treatment of pensioners
Alexis Tsipras attempted to connect with pensioners on Friday – an electoral group with which his SYRIZA party has limited appeal, but which the opposition leader seems to believe he can entice given the current concerns about the cost of living.
PM unveils 1.1-billion-euro anti-inflation package to opposition scepticism
The government is pinning its hopes on a new support package to blunt the effects of galloping inflation on households and businesses, but the opposition is accusing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of being too timid and missing the mark.