Politics
Govt plays down Omicron threat despite wariness and high Covid death rate
The week begins with the Greek government, like so many around the world, on tenterhooks due to the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid, although New Democracy officials have so far played down the possibility of it leading to major turbulence in the week ahead.
Govt holds firm on no lockdown as health system teeters
The government continues to resist calls for stricter Covid restrictions in Greece, although some experts warn that the public health system is close to breaking point.
Public sector hires under scrutiny again with more in the pipeline
The latest enhanced surveillance report from the European Commission urged the Greek government to keep a close watch on the public sector payroll, which is once again growing at a significant pace.
Parties at loggerheads over inquiry into media handouts
SYRIZA’s bid to put New Democracy on the spot over the Covid awareness campaign that saw a variety of Greek media outlets receive more than 40 million euros in total has been partially blocked by the government.
Athens reacts to Turkey developments, stance of EU allies on arms
The collapse of the Turkish lira and the possible knock-on effect that this might have across the Aegean is being followed closely in Athens.
Surprise handout announcement provokes storm of criticism from opposition
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ended weeks of speculation by announcing that low-paid pensioners and people with disabilities are to receive a year-end payment to help with skyrocketing living costs.
PM to address inflation as polls show wear and tear for govt
The government and the opposition parties are set to cross swords in Parliament on Monday over inflation as opinion polls indicate that rising prices, as well as the health crisis caused by the pandemic, are taking their toll on New Democracy.
Parties at odds over latest pandemic measures, way to tackle Covid wave
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis appears to have played his last card, short of a lockdown, in the effort to contain the pandemic as New Democracy looks to ride out the latest Covid wave.
PM makes new bid to address Covid wave, speculation about restrictions
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was due to return on Thursday to a communications tactic he used regularly during the early days of the pandemic – the televised address – in a bid to contain the latest Covid wave.
SYRIZA presses for answers on hospitals amid mounting Covid deaths
Main opposition party SYRIZA is pressing the government from multiple directions for more clarity on its strategy for handling the pandemic, as the daily figures suggest no let-up in the spread of the virus and its human toll.