Politics
New Democracy tries to win over voters with crackdown on bank charges, migration
Amid the onslaught of damaging revelations about farm payments fraud, ministers have seized on voter-pleasing topics to try and reverse the negative climate emerging from polls, announcing new limits on bank charges while doubling down on anti-migrant rhetoric.
New Democracy seeks to counter with marine parks and migration policy, rhetoric
The government is attempting to turn the table on its critics and go on the offensive on a range of issues after spending the last couple of weeks defending itself over the farming subsidy scandal.
Deteriorating ties with Libya become pressing challenge for Greek diplomacy
The two note verbale recently submitted to the United Nations by Libya underlined that relations between Greece and the Libyan government in Tripoli are currently at a dead end.
Corruption claims, foreign policy missteps impede government’s efforts to build momentum
Greece is preparing for the first major heatwave of the summer to hit the country this week, but it is the political heat that his government is facing because of the OPEKEPE scandal and its handling of foreign policy issues that is causing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis most concern.
Firefighting capabilities beefed up as blazes and water shortages weigh on government
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Friday that Greece’s defences against wildfires have been the strongest they have ever been but the realities of the climate crisis, whether in the form of summer blazes or water shortages, are becoming ever-more urgent issues for his government to address.
New Democracy suffers ratings blow as farming payments scandal unfolds
As revelations about systematic fraud in the distribution of farming subsidies continue to emerge, polling captures for the first time the potential impact of the scandal on the ruling New Democracy party.
Rival opposition motions give government breathing space over farm payments scandal
The dispute over the handling of revelations of massive fraud in the distribution of agricultural subsidies rumbles on, as opposition parties have tabled two separate motions aimed at bringing criminal charges against two former New Democracy ministers.
Opposition sees ND’s call for broader subsidy inquiry as attempt to muddy waters
The government caught its opponents by surprise on Monday when it announced that it will propose a broad parliamentary investigation into the alleged misuse of agricultural subsidies dating back to 1998 – a move that the opposition parties see as an attempt to dodge responsibility for the offences at the Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aids (OPEKEPE) which appear to have taken place under New Democracy’s watch.
PASOK homes in on misuse of public money but ND hopeful of absorbing blows
PASOK is expected to table over the coming days a proposal for a preliminary judicial inquiry into the OPEKEPE scandal, arguing that former agricultural development ministers Makis Voridis and Lefteris Avgenakis should face breach of duty charges.
ND doubles down on stricter migration policy, riling opponents
Despite a domestic and international outcry over its decision to adopt emergency migration measures, the government seems to have no intention of backing down from its controversial decision, which has to be considered within the current context of Greek politics as well as the heightened flow of migrants reaching the country from Libya.