Politics
Tsipras, Mitsotakis step up rhetoric ahead of EU vote as polls show little change
Campaigning for the May 26 European Parliament elections continues apace as a new opinion poll shows New Democracy having a sizeable lead but not increasing the gap over SYRIZA.
Tsipras leads the line as New Democracy has victory and majority in its sights
Alexis Tsipras is taking on an ever-more prominent role in SYRIZA’s campaign ahead of the European Parliament elections as a new opinion polls suggests the leftists are closing the gap on New Democracy, which is still on course to win the May 26 ballot and the national vote later this year.
Mitsotakis seeks inspiration from Cyprus as SYRIZA faces domestic mire
New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis help up Cyprus as an example that Greece should follow in the coming years in order to achieve a higher rate of growth.
SYRIZA lines up more relief measures to entice voters
Trailing in the opinion polls ahead of the European and local elections on May 26, the government appears to be searching for more policies that will appeal to voters and prevent SYRIZA from suffering a crushing defeat next month.
Athens eyes multiple benefits from joining China-backed 17+1 initiative
Greece joined last week the China-backed coalition of central and eastern European nations, the so called 16+1 group, becoming the 17th member of the collective.
In latest election pledge, Tsipras vows to ditch lower tax-free threshold
Alexis Tsipras has thrown a new pledge into the pre-election mix by promising not to reduce the tax-free threshold for incomes next year if he becomes prime minister again.
SYRIZA seeks to bolster post-MoU narrative with early IMF repayment
The talks Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos held with International Monetary Fund officials at the sidelines of the spring meetings in Washington over the past few days appear to have paved the way for Greece to make an early repayment to the IMF, a move that the government wants to include in its pre-election agenda.
Shifting geopolitical balance in East Med presents prospects and pitfalls
There is no doubt that US–Turkey relations are currently at a nadir and there does not seem to be any sign of a recovery, which is keeping Athens on its toes.
Confrontation over graft claims moves into overdrive
The bickering between the government and the opposition as a result of corruption claims and counter-claims is moving into overdrive as Parliament prepares to vote on whether to lift the immunity of a former minister.
Corruption claims dominate political discussion ahead of elections
It is becoming increasingly clear that the long campaign for the next general election will be dominated by clashes over corruption allegations rather than debates over policy choices.