MacroPolis

Amid mounting pressure, gov't hopes parallel programme will provide fillip

19/02/2016 - 16:50

The government submitted to Parliament on Friday the so-called “parallel programme” aimed mainly at easing the impact of the crisis on the most vulnerable groups in Greek society.

Stress and strain for gov't from farmers protests, police appointments

18/02/2016 - 16:26

The government is playing the long game with regard to the farmers’ protests against its tax and pension reforms in the hope that differences between the various groups as well as the need to return to the land will lead to the demonstrations fizzling out but this does not mean the coalition is not feeling the toll.

Sensing opportunity, Golden Dawn rears its head again

17/02/2016 - 16:52

Two Golden Dawn MPs were ousted from a parliamentary committee on Wednesday after verbally abusing Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, highlighting the growing confidence that the Neo-Nazi party’s MPs seem to be feeling.

Tsipras concerns about EU stance on refugee crisis shared by opposition

16/02/2016 - 16:52

Alexis Tsipras faces a crucial few days ahead in his bid to convince Greece’s partners in the European Union that it is doing enough to tackle the refugee crisis and acting on the recommendations in a recent warning from the European Commission.

Coalition hopes to ride out pension and tax dispute with farmers

15/02/2016 - 16:29

There were signs on Monday of a possible thaw in the frosty relations between the government and the farmers, whose protest against tax and pension reforms in Athens on Friday increased the tension between the two sides.

Coalition opens up new political front with tender for TV licenses

11/02/2016 - 13:20

Parliament is due to debate and vote on Thursday an emergency amendment that would allow the government to launch, and oversee, a tender for four national TV licenses.

Bailout review differences feed speculation about Tsipras turning to elections

10/02/2016 - 16:56

Speculation is growing in Greece about the possibility that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras might resort to snap elections if he is not able to secure the kind of agreement that he wants with lenders as part of the first bailout review.

Hope of economic, trade benefits drive Tsipras's landmark visit to Iran

09/02/2016 - 14:27

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has become the first European leader to visit Iran since the lifting of trade sanctions against Tehran, underlining Athens’s determination to become a link between the Middle East country and the EU.

In grip of protests, coalition searches for ways to lift mood

08/02/2016 - 11:29

With farmers deciding to step up their protests against the government’s pension and tax reforms, there is even more pressure on Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to find ways of deflecting the criticism of his coalition and changing the mood.

Greece seen improving refugee response but still under pressure to deliver in Feb

07/02/2016 - 23:09

Recent developments in Greece point to the European Union viewing its efforts regarding the refugee crisis in a more positive light but the pressure is still on Athens to deliver.