Politics
Athens eyes fiscal compromise to complete programme review
The start of 2017 also marks the beginning of a new effort by the Greek government to reach an agreement with the institutions that would lead to the conclusion of the second review within the next few weeks.
Mitsotakis probes for coalition weakness after Tsakalotos letter
New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis criticised on Thursday the government’s handling of the dispute with the creditors over the pension bonus, arguing that the coalition consigning Greece to further austerity.
Mindful of role, Athens gears up for Cyprus Conference
Just under three weeks are left before the Cyprus Conference on January 12 in Geneva, which is seen as crucial for the fate of reunification talks.
After pension dispute with lenders, coalition faces domestic unease
Opposition parties pressed the government on Tuesday to make public the letter sent by Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos to the institutions to smooth over the row that broke out after the government decided to grant pensioners a 617-million-euro Christmas bonus from the excess surplus produced in 2016.
Dispute over handouts drags on, allowing tension with creditors to rise
The Greek government looks set to respond to the institutions’ apprehension about Greek commitment to the programme and its fiscal targets after Christmas, according to reports on Friday.
Tsipras mixes rhetoric as review conclusion demands political decisions
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras continued to issue mixed messages on Wednesday: On the one hand, he defended his decision on the pension bonus despite his government frantic efforts to avoid this delaying short term debt relief, while on the other he insisted that the review could be concluded by the end of January and that talk of snap elections is “nonsense.”
Poll suggests scepticism about deal with lenders as Tsipras ponders options
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras continued to focus on his domestic audience on Tuesday, when he visited Crete to hold a meeting with local farmers, but there is no getting away from the problems facing his government due to the loose ends it has left in its dealings with the institutions.
Tsipras gets no encouragement from lenders, left to consider next move
Following his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Friday, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has a few days ahead to consider what action he wants to take next in what now looks set to be a prolonged negotiation with lenders over the second review.
Athens, Nicosia buoyed by EU role in Cyprus talks
The European Council’s decision on Thursday that the EU should participate in the upcoming Cyprus Conference in Switzerland was well received by Athens and Nicosia.
Tsipras wins domestic support for pension bonus but key struggles lie abroad
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras heads for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin on Friday boosted by broad support in Greek Parliament for his controversial pledge for a Christmas bonus to 1.6 million pensioners and knowing that he has put main opposition party New Democracy in a tricky position.