Politics
Growing scepticism of SYRIZA strategy but opposition parties fail to profit
The Greek public’s increasing scepticism about the government’s negotiating strategy has been emphasised by a new poll, which underlines, though, that opposition parties are not profiting from the growing doubts about SYRIZA.
Athens wary of Skopje unrest but still aims to bolster ties
Athens has been monitoring with great concern the ongoing political crisis in the neighboring Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) but the SYRIZA-led government is unlikely to be deterred in its efforts to build closer ties with Skopje.
Close call on IMF payment puts Tsipras under more pressure at home, abroad
Reports over the weekend that Greece came close to not paying the 750 million euros due to the International Monetary Fund on May 12 will increase the political pressure on the government to reach a deal with lenders as soon as possible.
![Photo by Myrto Papadopoulos (www.myrtopapadopoulos.com]](resources/toolip/img-thumb/2013/11/13/syrizaflags_1000_myrto_1211-medium.jpg "Photo by Myrto Papadopoulos (www.myrtopapadopoulos.com]")
SYRIZA caught in push and pull between voters and members over deal
SYRIZA finds itself caught between party members and MPs, who are reluctant to sign up to a deal with lenders that will mean adopting more austerity measures, and Greek society, which is growing increasingly desperate for a deal as cash dries up.
Signs of siege mentality in gov't dispute with lenders, BoG governor
Negotiations between Greece and its lenders were due to resume at the Brussels Group level on Thursday after a lengthy cabinet meeting in Athens on Wednesday night.
Foreign minister's visit to Ankara sparks hope of new era in Greek-Turkish ties
A visit by Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias to Turkey this week has given fresh hope of progress in relations between Athens and Ankara.
Eurogroup leaves Greece in limbo, with liquidity drying up
Monday’s Eurogroup produced a lukewarm statement on the state of Greece’s negotiations with its lenders that Athens hopes will be enough to avert any decision from the European Central Bank that would further restrict liquidity to local lenders but which is unlikely to suffice for Frankfurt to lift the T-Bill cap for the Greek state and banks.
Athens keeps options open on gas pipelines despite nudge from Washington
The Greek government’s multi-pronged approach to energy issues has been in focus over the past few days after the US State Department sent Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs Amos Hochstein to Athens on Friday to convince Athens that it should concentrate its efforts on the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and not on extending the planned Turkish Stream pipeline through Greece.
Eurogroup build-up dominated by internal friction over way forward
The Greek government will be looking towards Monday’s Eurogroup for some kind of positive indication regarding the state of its negotiations with lenders but expectations for any kind of notable statement are extremely low.
Greece prepared to move on pension, labour reforms but details to be decisive
A joint statement by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Wednesday may prove a pivotal moment in the new government’s relationship with its creditors but still leaves a lot of work to be done in the next few days.