Politics
Election speculation gathers steam while surveillance claims mount
With political activities nominally on hold over the Christmas and New Year holidays, speculation over the possible date of elections continues, with the consensus now converging around Palm Sunday, April 9.
ND paves way to spring elections with relief measures amid SYRIZA objections
New Democracy’s approach to dealing with the cost-of-living crisis continues to be questioned by the opposition. Wednesday’s vote over the latest measure, the so-called “Market Pass”, saw SYRIZA accusing the conservatives of duping the public and favouring powerful business interests.
Athens hopeful of progress on sea delimitation differences with Albania after FM visit
Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias’s mini tour of the Western Balkans this week appears to have had a positive impact.
PM defends grocery stipend, hopes to draw support from PASOK
Perhaps buoyed by a new opinion poll showing a slight bounce in his party’s ratings, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis mounted a stout defence on Wednesday of his government’s latest handout, which was dismissed as a pre-election gift by the opposition.
SYRIZA pushes alternative cost-of-living package but govt support still a vote-winner
The surprise announcement of a “Market Pass” for hard-pressed shoppers in the prime minister’s budget statement has attracted strong criticism from the opposition.
PM offers shopping bill subsidy as surveillance scandal threatens to spill over into judicial crisis
Facing a potential judicial/constitutional crisis over the surveillance scandal, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis presented a last-minute cost-of-living relief measure ahead of the vote on the 2023 budget, hoping that his government can allay any disquiet among voters.
ND tries to swerve fresh graft claims as EP scandals, phonetapping hang over budget debate
The Qatargate scandal centred on PASOK MEP Eva Kaili may have given ruling New Democracy some respite from defending its administration against mounting evidence of a domestic spying operation, but an investigation by the EU prosecutor into one of its own parliamentarians in Brussels has once again upset the balance.
PM turns on PASOK, sees opportunity to revive dwindling support
The Qatargate scandal involving Greek centre-left MEP Eva Kaili has presented New Democracy with an opportunity to turn its guns on PASOK and perhaps convince a crucial section of the electorate not to back the socialists in next year’s elections, as a new opinion poll shows support for the conservatives slipping.
Tsipras on alert for snap elections, but Mitsotakis looks set to stay course
SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras has suggested that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis could call snap elections early next year, several months before the government’s four-year term expires, but the chances of such a move appear slim for the time being.
Surveillance and Qatargate threaten to overshadow budget debate
The scheduled debate over next year’s budget kicks off today with political parties distracted by corruption scandals at home and abroad. With governing New Democracy is bracing for further revelations stemming from the surveillance affair, third party PASOK-KINAL is in damage limitation mode after the arrest of its MEP Eva Kaili in Brussels on corruption charges.