Politics
In survival bid, coalition seeks to ease taxpayer burden, secure early bailout exit
The government submitted legislation to Parliament on Thursday that aims to tie up several loose ends before the troika’s returns but also to live up to the pledge Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and Deputy Premier Evangelos Venizelos have made to lighten the burden on Greek taxpayers.
Mixed messages continue to dog SYRIZA
The prospect of power often has magical powers in terms of uniting a party but in SYRIZA’s case an ever more solid lead in opinion polls and the possibility that Greece will hold national elections in just a few months’ time is doing little to unite the party behind a single message.
SYRIZA builds clear but not conclusive lead in polls as PASOK and GD fade
Another weekend has passed and another set of polls have given SYRIZA a clear but not decisive lead over New Democracy.
Samaras, Venizelos suggest EU support for Greece to continue after tough week on markets
The Athens Stock Exchange recovered some of its losses on Friday and Greek bond yields also eased after a turbulent few days as Greek officials clarified that although the government is still seeking to exit its bailout at the end of the year, it wants to do so with some kind of precautionary support.
Greek coalition stands by early bailout exit plans despite fresh blows on bond, stock markets
The task of putting a brave face on what has been a disturbing week for the government and its hopes of exiting the troika bailout early fell to Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis on Thursday.
Samaras blames SYRIZA for market jitters but his main strategy is at risk
After seeing the Athens Stock Exchange plummet and Greek bond yields soar this week, Prime Minister Antonis Samaras sought to deflect any blame for investors' reaction from his government onto SYRIZA.
SYRIZA has makings of pact with Independent Greeks but To Potami not on board yet
With Greece heading towards February's presidential election and possibly a general election after that, one of the main dilemmas facing SYRIZA is who it could govern with.
![Photo by Myrto Papadopoulos [www.myrtopapadopoulos.com]](resources/toolip/img-thumb/2014/03/10/venizelos_1000_myrto_1003--2-medium.jpg "Photo by Myrto Papadopoulos [www.myrtopapadopoulos.com]")
Venizelos under further pressure as PASOK grows ever more anxious
Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos’s leadership of PASOK came under further strain this week, with thousands of members calling for a congress to be held to assess the party’s prospects.
Greece steps up efforts for early bailout exit but lenders play it coy
Greece stepped up on Sunday its efforts to pave the way for an early and clean exit from its bailout programme at the end of the year but, as Greek officials admitted, all the options are still open.
Coalition wins confidence vote but gets little encouragement for presidential ballot
The coalition sailed through Friday night's confidence vote, gaining the support of all of its 155 MPs, but failing to attract any others to its camp, with only two lawmakers voting "present" and 131 against the government.