Politics
Athens gears up for Cyprus talks, expecting progress rather than agreement
Following 19 months of intensive talks aiming to reunify Cyprus, the two Cypriot leaders are due to meet in Geneva on Monday at the beginning of a crucial week of negotiations on the issues of territory, security and guarantees.
Govt hopes for Feb review deal but opposition readies in case of snap polls
There are increasing indications from government sources that Athens has accepted it is unlikely the review will be completed in time for the January 26 Eurogroup and that a conclusion in February is more likely.
Creation of unified social security fund poses new challenge for govt
The war of words between the government and New Democracy over the ongoing review has intensified and will undoubtedly be the main political battleground in the weeks to come.
Athens eyes fiscal compromise to complete programme review
The start of 2017 also marks the beginning of a new effort by the Greek government to reach an agreement with the institutions that would lead to the conclusion of the second review within the next few weeks.
Mitsotakis probes for coalition weakness after Tsakalotos letter
New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis criticised on Thursday the government’s handling of the dispute with the creditors over the pension bonus, arguing that the coalition consigning Greece to further austerity.
Mindful of role, Athens gears up for Cyprus Conference
Just under three weeks are left before the Cyprus Conference on January 12 in Geneva, which is seen as crucial for the fate of reunification talks.
After pension dispute with lenders, coalition faces domestic unease
Opposition parties pressed the government on Tuesday to make public the letter sent by Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos to the institutions to smooth over the row that broke out after the government decided to grant pensioners a 617-million-euro Christmas bonus from the excess surplus produced in 2016.
Dispute over handouts drags on, allowing tension with creditors to rise
The Greek government looks set to respond to the institutions’ apprehension about Greek commitment to the programme and its fiscal targets after Christmas, according to reports on Friday.
Tsipras mixes rhetoric as review conclusion demands political decisions
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras continued to issue mixed messages on Wednesday: On the one hand, he defended his decision on the pension bonus despite his government frantic efforts to avoid this delaying short term debt relief, while on the other he insisted that the review could be concluded by the end of January and that talk of snap elections is “nonsense.”
Poll suggests scepticism about deal with lenders as Tsipras ponders options
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras continued to focus on his domestic audience on Tuesday, when he visited Crete to hold a meeting with local farmers, but there is no getting away from the problems facing his government due to the loose ends it has left in its dealings with the institutions.