Politics
Seasonal worries add to pressure on govt as opposition highlights holiday costs, hospital staffing
The PM’s office is on edge about the first opinion polls after the summer recess, as the government has been under sustained pressure since the EP elections, while opposition parties have been making more complaints about the cost of living and declining public services.
Opposition pledges no let-up on surveillance affair as watchdog joins Supreme Court critics
The controversial Supreme Court decision to shelve an investigation into potential government involvement in the use of spyware and illegal surveillance has been questioned in an article by the head of the communications privacy watchdog.
New Himare elections pose fresh challenge for Greek-Albanian relations
Athens is questioning the result of the local municipal elections on Sunday in Albania’s southwestern town of Himare and the victory of ruling Socialist party’s candidate Vangjel Tavo due to doubts raised by members of the ethnic Greek minority.
ND blocks parliamentary scrutiny of court’s surveillance decision, ratcheting up political tension
New Democracy has blocked a request from all the opposition parties for Parliament to scrutinise further a Supreme Court investigation into the wiretapping scandal, which will no doubt intensify the friction between the government and its opponents over this issue.
Domestic factors seen playing role in PM's pick for European Commission
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has picked Central Macedonia Governor Apostolos Tzitzikostas as Greece’s next representative on the European Commission, a decision that some observers believe was motivated at least partly by domestic political considerations.
Opposition demands scrutiny of surveillance verdict by Parliament
Five opposition parties have lodged a motion to hear testimony from the Supreme Court judges who earlier this week cleared the government and its agencies of any involvement in the use of illegal spyware.
Athens fears Middle East instability, joins others to push for change in EU's Syria policy
Athens is monitoring with concern the latest developments in the Middle East in the aftermath of the assassination of Ismail Haniyeh, the political leader of Hamas, a development Greece fears could inflame tensions in the already-fraught region and wipe out any fragile hopes of achieving a ceasefire in the Gaza war.
Opposition parties cry foul over prosecutor’s findings in spyware probe
The decision by the Supreme Court to shelve the investigation into the possible involvement of government agencies or officials in the use of illegal spyware to eavesdrop on journalists, public figures and businessmen has enraged opposition parties who are calling the findings a whitewash.
SYRIZA seizes on latest spyware reports to renew pressure on government
The wiretapping scandal, involving the illegal surveillance of dozens of politicians, public officials, journalists and businessmen, is back at the forefront of the political debate this week after a series of revealing reports in the local media.
Mitsotakis focuses on next steps as Kasselakis becomes embroiled in new internal row
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is aiming to refocus his government’s efforts on delivering promised reforms, while SYRIZA leader Stefanos Kasselakis continues to be plagued by bickering over the presence of controversial MP Pavlos Polakis in the leftist party despite the fact the lawmaker was ousted from the parliamentary group last week.