MacroPolis

Golden Dawn murders generate new test for Greek democracy

Greek democracy has been under pressure since the country’s economy and political system began to unravel in 2010 but the strain will only increase after the murder of two Golden Dawn members outside the party’s offices in northern Athens on Friday night.

SYRIZA MP asks: Just how will we find the money?

Critics have levelled the accusation at SYRIZA many times but the party’s veteran MP, Manolis Glezos, has broken new ground by being the first leftist lawmaker to express doubts about just where SYRIZA is going to find the money to fulfil its policy pledges.

Kammenos ups rhetoric but Independent Greeks' future unclear

The leader of anti-bailout Independent Greeks, Panos Kammenos, has never been reluctant to express his opinion but when this view fails to meet with the approval of his own spokesman, it is clear that nothing about the party's future can be taken for granted.

Fear and loathing in Athens: an ex-minister's take on troika reviews

The troika is due to resume its latest review of the Greek adjustment programme next week but ahead of the inspectors’ return, a former minister has cast serious doubt on Greece’s negotiating strategy and the motives that drive some of the lenders’ demands.

How big is Greek fiscal gap? Will cuts be needed? Here's our Q&A

Discussions at the European Union leaders' summit in Brussels, which concluded on Friday afternoon, did little to clear up the uncertainty about where Greece and the troika stand with regard to Athens having to find more budget savings next year.

Coalition agrees policy framework: Purpose unclear, impact doubtful

Sixteen months after one-time rivals Antonis Samaras and Evangelos Venizelos put aside their differences to form a coalition government, the two have agreed on a policy framework for their administration. However, as the accord comes more than a year after last summer’s fractious elections, questions will be asked about its relevance at this stage of developments in Greece.

Rare moment of unity as MPs agree to stop Golden Dawn’s state funding

It does not happen often but early on Wednesday morning, the overwhelming majority of Greek MPs voted in favour of an amendment submitted to Parliament. The legislation will see state funding to Golden Dawn halted in the wake of charges being levelled against its leader and several MPs.

EU Task Force sees improvements in Greece, tends to damaged ties

By: Nick Malkoutzis

The European Union Task Force for Greece noted on Tuesday “striking improvements” in the country’s absorption of structural and cohesion funding and an “accelerated pace of change” in public administration reforms. The report is the latest stage in the attempt by the European Commission to provide Greece with tangible help that goes some way to mending broken ties.

Submarine deal resurfaces, threatening new political divisions

Ex-Defence Minister Akis Tsochatzopoulos was jailed for money laundering last week but his legacy continues to cause turmoil in Greek politics. The fallout from the submarine deal he signed while at the ministry is at the heart of SYRIZA’s latest political assault on the government and is threatening to cause a rift between the two parties within the coalition.

Coalition in a bind as debt relief slips away and more austerity looms

The possibility of having to implement around 2 billion euros in new austerity measures next year and not discovering what form further debt relief might take until the middle of 2014 has suddenly put the Greek government on tenterhooks.