MacroPolis

Are Independent Greeks and SYRIZA set to become odd bedfellows?

13/11/2013 - 12:12

Could what once seemed impossible be about to happen? Are we set to see SYRIZA and the Independent Greeks, two parties on opposite sides of the political spectrum, agree an official cooperation?

Scars for coalition, questions for SYRIZA after confidence vote

11/11/2013 - 02:52

Greece’s two-party coalition survived a no-confidence vote early Monday, leaving opposition party SYRIZA, which submitted the censure motion, looking unprepared and testy. The government, meanwhile, suffered the embarrassment of one of its MPs voting for the motion.

SYRIZA to test coalition with censure motion but victory unlikely

08/11/2013 - 09:13

Despite the contentious austerity policies the Greek government has implement since being elected in June 2012, its decision to shut down public broadcaster ERT has caused political waves like no other measure. This was underlined on Thursday, when SYRIZA submitted a censure motion to Parliament after riot police forced out the last ERT employees from the broadcaster's headquarters.

Final act in ERT closure carries significant risk for coalition

07/11/2013 - 11:29

Riot police raided the headquarters of former public broadcaster ERT in Athens and Thessaloniki before dawn on Thursday, almost five months after the government shut down the TV and radio service. It is the latest chapter in a story fraught with dangers for the coalition.

In clearest statement yet, Tsipras says he'd keep euro

06/11/2013 - 00:48

SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras has attempted to clear up any doubts – at least outside of the country – about whether he favours Greece remaining in the euro. Speaking at the University of Texas on Monday, he made it clear that he believes it would be more damaging for Greece to leave the single currency than to remain in the euro.

Samaras proposes free wi-fi as crisis antidote for young Greeks

05/11/2013 - 10:00

Prime Minister Antonis Samaras has come up with a surprising proposal to give hope to young Greeks, including those considering leaving the country because of record unemployment: Free wi-fi throughout Greece.

Golden Dawn murders generate new test for Greek democracy

02/11/2013 - 02:03

Greek democracy has been under pressure since the country’s economy and political system began to unravel in 2010 but the strain will only increase after the murder of two Golden Dawn members outside the party’s offices in northern Athens on Friday night.

SYRIZA MP asks: Just how will we find the money?

31/10/2013 - 11:34

Critics have levelled the accusation at SYRIZA many times but the party’s veteran MP, Manolis Glezos, has broken new ground by being the first leftist lawmaker to express doubts about just where SYRIZA is going to find the money to fulfil its policy pledges.

Kammenos ups rhetoric but Independent Greeks' future unclear

30/10/2013 - 10:13

The leader of anti-bailout Independent Greeks, Panos Kammenos, has never been reluctant to express his opinion but when this view fails to meet with the approval of his own spokesman, it is clear that nothing about the party's future can be taken for granted.

Fear and loathing in Athens: an ex-minister's take on troika reviews

29/10/2013 - 10:15

The troika is due to resume its latest review of the Greek adjustment programme next week but ahead of the inspectors’ return, a former minister has cast serious doubt on Greece’s negotiating strategy and the motives that drive some of the lenders’ demands.