Politics
After ECB tests, it's back to troika review for Greek coalition
After Greek banks passed the European Central Bank’s comprehensive assessment, which alleviated previous concerns about the Hellenic Financial Stability Facility (HFSF) capital buffer of 11.4 billion euros remaining intact, the next key challenge for the government is the ongoing negotiations with the troika.
ECB results light up path for Greek coalition's bailout exit plan
After a series of knock-backs in recent weeks, the coalition received its first boost for some time on Sunday when the European Central Bank’s stress tests revealed that Greeks lenders could need as little as 18 million euros in new capital.
SYRIZA's weak foreign, defence policy credentials a vulnerability
With all the focus falling on its economic policies, little attention has been paid to where SYRIZA stands on defence and foreign policy. With Greece potentially just a few months away from early elections and a change of government, there are few questions being asked about the leftist party’s ability to handle such sensitive policy areas.
In survival bid, coalition seeks to ease taxpayer burden, secure early bailout exit
The government submitted legislation to Parliament on Thursday that aims to tie up several loose ends before the troika’s returns but also to live up to the pledge Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Deputy Premier Evangelos Venizelos have made to lighten the burden on Greek taxpayers.
Mixed messages continue to dog SYRIZA
The prospect of power often has magical powers in terms of uniting a party but in SYRIZA’s case an ever more solid lead in opinion polls and the possibility that Greece will hold national elections in just a few months’ time is doing little to unite the party behind a single message.
SYRIZA builds clear but not conclusive lead in polls as PASOK and GD fade
Another weekend has passed and another set of polls have given SYRIZA a clear but not decisive lead over New Democracy.
Samaras, Venizelos suggest EU support for Greece to continue after tough week on markets
The Athens Stock Exchange recovered some of its losses on Friday and Greek bond yields also eased after a turbulent few days as Greek officials clarified that although the government is still seeking to exit its bailout at the end of the year, it wants to do so with some kind of precautionary support.
Greek coalition stands by early bailout exit plans despite fresh blows on bond, stock markets
The task of putting a brave face on what has been a disturbing week for the government and its hopes of exiting the troika bailout early fell to Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis on Thursday.
Samaras blames SYRIZA for market jitters but his main strategy is at risk
After seeing the Athens Stock Exchange plummet and Greek bond yields soar this week, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras sought to deflect any blame for investors' reaction from his government onto SYRIZA.
SYRIZA has makings of pact with Independent Greeks but To Potami not on board yet
With Greece heading towards February's presidential election and possibly a general election after that, one of the main dilemmas facing SYRIZA is who it could govern with.