Politics
Huge protests over Tempe add to pressure on government
Athens, Thessaloniki and dozens of other cities and towns saw the biggest protests held for many years in Greece on Friday, marking the second anniversary of the deadly Tempe train crash and underlining the intense pressure on the government over its handling of the accident’s aftermath.
Tempe casts heavy shadow over public mood as accident report confirms serious safety failings
On the eve of planned demonstrations to mark the second anniversary of the Tempe rail accident, more polls capture widespread public discontent with the authorities’ handling of the crash, further chipping away at support for mainstream political parties.
PM seeks escape from Tempe in reforms agenda, as opposition parties mull next move
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis focussed on business as usual in Wednesday’s cabinet meeting, in an attempt to distance himself from the growing clamour as the two-year anniversary of the Tempe rail crash approaches.
ND tries to dial down Tempe rhetoric as support plummets in new opinion poll
The government appears to be dialling down its rhetoric ahead of the strikes and protests planned for Friday, coinciding with the second anniversary of the deadly Tempe train crash, which almost six in 10 Greeks say they are considering attending.
Government comes out swinging as tense week, building up to Tempe protests, begins
The government and the opposition parties are facing a crucial week as tension builds ahead of the two-year anniversary of the Tempe rail crash on Friday, when large protests are expected around the country.
Mitsotakis backs Ukraine as Athens tries to balance position with Trump administration
Athens remains firm in its position on Ukraine with the Greek Prime Minister stressing that “nothing can be decided for Ukraine without Ukraine”.
Fringe parties gain from Tempe furore as judiciary becomes embroiled in row
The third opinion poll to be published in two days shows support for New Democracy slipping and an extremely high level of public scepticism in the government’s handling of the Tempe rail crash.
Mainstream parties lose steam as Mitsotakis accuses opposition of trying to topple government
As the political tension over the Tempe crash ratchets up, polls show mainstream parties losing support to fringe groups on both the right and the left. PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis escalated the rhetoric further, accusing the opposition of wanting political destabilisation.
Political tension ramps up as Tempe anniversary approaches
Opposition attacks over the Tempe rail crash flared up again in Parliament, prompting a furious response by senior New Democracy figures and ensuring that tensions will remain high as the two-year anniversary of the deadly accident approaches at the end of February.
Government treads carefully on Trump, looks for positives in EU defence spending tweak
The Greek government continues to be restrained in its public comments about the actions of US President Donald Trump and his administration, but has made it clear that it is strongly in favour of greater flexibility on defence spending in the European Union.