MacroPolis

Parliament starts process of probing Greek debt and MoUs - further division likely

07/04/2015 - 13:50

Greek Parliament voted in the early hours of Tuesday morning to launch an inquiry into the country’s two international bailouts, adding to an atmosphere in which there is intense questioning of the policies followed over the previous years and how Greece’s debt was formed.

Tsipras heads for Russia with specific aims, including halting speculation

07/04/2015 - 10:20

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is preparing for his two-day visit to Moscow, which begins on Wednesday and is essentially his first foreign policy challenge, especially after the noise generated by Greece’s allies and partners following the announcement of the trip.

Greece to pay IMF but concluding negotiations will be a tougher task

06/04/2015 - 04:36

There were no surprises from Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis’s meeting with International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde in Washington on Sunday but the government in Athens still faces a challenging few days ahead.

Approach to protests, policing poses a new quandary for government

03/04/2015 - 14:44

Following a wave of sit-in protests by anti-establishment groups, Alternate Citizens’ Protection Minister Yiannis Panousis has taken the unprecedented step of warning the government via a front page op-ed piece that it has to take a tougher stance on policing.

Tsipras hopes for 'spring' with Russia but brighter days not certain

02/04/2015 - 10:06

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras says he hopes for “spring” in relations between Greece and Russia, which he his due to visit on April 8, rather than the “Siberian winter” that currently exists between Moscow and the European Union.

Parliament's bailout probe has potential to be politically toxic

01/04/2015 - 16:16

Parliament is set to discuss in the next few days (possibly on Monday) a proposal by SYRIZA and Independent Greeks MPs to set up an inquiry into the circumstances in which Greece signed up to both of its international bailouts.

Tsipras targets opposition in debate but parliament speaker steals the show

31/03/2015 - 16:02

A parliamentary debate about Greece’s negotiations with its lenders failed to produce any substance on Monday night but was notable for a clash between house speaker Zoe Konstantopoulou and New Democracy.

As reform talks continue in Brussels, Tsipras gauges reaction at home

30/03/2015 - 09:41

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is due to round off on Monday evening his attempt to engage with his own party and the domestic audience over the content of the reform package his government has sent to lenders and the course of negotiations in Brussels.

No quick solution to Greek liquidity problem; reforms list holds key

26/03/2015 - 09:16

Recent developments had created a sense of optimism in Greece regarding the country’s prospects for overcoming its differences with lenders in the coming days but the government was given a reminder on Wednesday that it should not expect it all to be plain sailing.

Tsipras seeks tone of cooperation and persistence at Merkel talks

24/03/2015 - 11:14

A lengthy meeting between Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday produced little in the way of concrete developments but seems to have been a significant contribution to the normalisation of relations between the new government in Athens and its lenders, including Germany.