Politics
Athens fears Middle East instability, joins others to push for change in EU's Syria policy
Athens is monitoring with concern the latest developments in the Middle East in the aftermath of the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, a development Greece fears could inflame tensions in the already-fraught region and wipe out any fragile hopes of achieving a ceasefire in the Gaza war.
Opposition parties cry foul over prosecutor’s findings in spyware probe
The decision by the Supreme Court to shelve the investigation into the possible involvement of government agencies or officials in the use of illegal spyware to eavesdrop on journalists, public figures and businessmen has enraged opposition parties who are calling the findings a whitewash.
SYRIZA seizes on latest spyware reports to renew pressure on government
The wiretapping scandal, involving the illegal surveillance of dozens of politicians, public officials, journalists and businessmen, is back at the forefront of the political debate this week after a series of revealing reports in the local media.
Mitsotakis focuses on next steps as Kasselakis becomes embroiled in new internal row
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is aiming to refocus his government’s efforts on delivering promised reforms, while SYRIZA leader Stefanos Kasselakis continues to be plagued by bickering over the presence of controversial MP Pavlos Polakis in the leftist party despite the fact the lawmaker was ousted from the parliamentary group last week.
Kasselakis ousts controversial MP, intensifying speculation about plans for SYRIZA
SYRIZA leader Stefanos Kasselakis has ousted outspoken MP Pavlos Polakis from the leftists’ parliamentary group following another outburst from the Cretan politician, but only time will tell if this is a key juncture in the nascent leader’s efforts to gain full control of the opposition grouping or whether it is just another episode in the ongoing saga of the party’s existential crisis.
Government hails rule of law progress but open investigations continue to raise questions
The publication of the European Commission’s annual Rule of Law report has been welcomed by government officials, who describe it as a validation of the administration’s reforms and a response to its critics at home and abroad.
Fresh turbulence at SYRIZA as opposition parties take aim at bank deal
Main opposition party SYRIZA seems headed for a turbulent summer following the latest confrontation between senior party officials and leader Stefanos Kasselakis.
Dispute over hospital doctor shortages rages as minister makes controversial Turkey comments
There is growing criticism from the opposition parties about the government’s handling of public healthcare, mostly due to the staff shortages that authorities are having difficulty addressing.
Government seeking to tie up loose ends before summer break
The government is hoping to make use of the last few days of parliamentary activity before the summer recess to pass several bills, while a shake-up of the general secretaries at a range of ministries is also expected in the coming days.
Cyprus invasion anniversary generates new friction in Greek-Turkish relations
The next meeting of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkey's president Recep Tayyip Erdogan in September is expected to define both the course of Greek-Turkish relations and developments on the Cyprus issue.