Politics
PM brings law and order back onto agenda as foreign policy issues dominate
Foreign policy issues have been dominating the domestic political agenda in Greece over the past few days, although the government has tried to shift focus back to internal matters via its law and order agenda.
Athens moves on after Berlin Conference absence, seeks more active role in Libya developments
In Greece’s absence, the Berlin Conference ended on Sunday with an agreement among all the participants to respect a much-violated arms embargo, to hold off on military support to the warring parties and push them to reach a full ceasefire.
PM trails switch in tax cuts, admits misstep in approach to migration
The interview Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis gave to Alpha TV on Thursday night was dominated by foreign policy issues but also included some new insight into the government’s fiscal plans for this year.
Excluded from Libya talks, Athens vows to block decisions that ignore sea border concerns
Athens has been left to watch from afar the latest international diplomatic initiatives aimed at bringing an end to the longstanding conflict in Libya.
Mitsotakis eyes multiple benefits after nominating top judge to be first female president
Kyriakos Mitsotakis has named Council of State president Katerina Sakellaropoulou as his party’s candidate to become Greece’s first female head of state in a move that counters recent criticism about the lack of women in his cabinet and puts pressure on his political rivals to back New Democracy’s proposal.
ND's electoral bill put before MPs as PM mulls options for president
MPs are due to begin debating on Wednesday the government’s proposed change to the electoral law, which is highly unlikely to gain the necessary level of support to avoid Greece’s next general election being held under the proportional representation system.
Mitsotakis sets out economic goals for 2020 as govt vies for extra fiscal space
Speaking to business leaders on Monday, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis set out his government’s economic priorities for the year, reiterating New Democracy’s determination to create more fiscal space for tax cuts, a move that will also depend on the acquiescence of Greece’s lenders.
Pension bill to be unveiled as govt prepared for fifth post-MoU review
Following a week when foreign policy dominated the political agenda in Greece, the government’s attention turns to the more mundane matters of the fifth enhanced surveillance review and pension reform in the coming days.
PM gets no change out of opposition leaders on US trip, electoral law
Fresh from his trip to Washington, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with opposition leaders on Friday and was reminded that he would not have an easy ride from his political rivals over plans for closer defence cooperation with the US and his bid to change the electoral law.
Athens pleased with Washington talks despite lack of definitive US position on Turkey
The government appears satisfied with the result of the Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s first diplomatic tour in the US even though the Greek side did not elicit from the US president a public denouncement of Turkey's actions in the Eastern Mediterranean that Athens views as breaches of its sovereign rights.