Politics
Govt stands firm on 'no lockdown' message, pins hopes on vaccination surge
The political leadership in Greece is insisting that it will not be following the lead of other European countries by imposing further public health restrictions in the approach to the Christmas holidays, but instead is focussing all efforts on boosting vaccination uptake.
Mitsotakis heads to Israel and Russia with broad agenda
Issues that are high on the Greek government’s diplomatic agenda, such as energy, the tension in the Eastern Mediterranean and Turkey are expected to top the talks that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will have on his visits to Tel Aviv and Sochi this week.
MEP Androulakis takes first round in KINAL leadership vote after notable turnout
Social democratic MEP Nikos Androulakis and former prime minister George Papandreou will contest the leadership of KINAL in a run-off ballot next Sunday after an impressive turnout in the first round of voting to elect a new head for the centre-left party on December 5.
Papandreou boasts strong backing as KINAL gears up to elect new leader
Third-placed party KINAL holds the first round of its leadership contest this weekend as it seeks to turn a page following the death of former party president, Fofi Gennimata.
Opposition renews attack on government over hospital capacity
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s announcement of fines for unvaccinated over-60s has further widened the divide between government and opposition on the handling of the pandemic, as cases appear to fall but hospitalisations continue to surge.
PM opts for risky move with vaccination penalty as Covid threat grows
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis took a potentially high-risk decision on Tuesday to impose a 100-euro monthly penalty on any Greeks over 60 who do not get their Covid vaccines by mid-January.
New pension legislation aims to speed up operations at overwhelmed EFKA fund
Problems continue to bedevil the operation of the unified pensions fund EFKA as new legislation seeks to bring in greater private sector involvement.
Govt plays down Omicron threat despite wariness and high Covid death rate
The week begins with the Greek government, like so many around the world, on tenterhooks due to the emergence of the Omicron variant of Covid, although New Democracy officials have so far played down the possibility of it leading to major turbulence in the week ahead.
Govt holds firm on no lockdown as health system teeters
The government continues to resist calls for stricter Covid restrictions in Greece, although some experts warn that the public health system is close to breaking point.
Public sector hires under scrutiny again with more in the pipeline
The latest enhanced surveillance report from the European Commission urged the Greek government to keep a close watch on the public sector payroll, which is once again growing at a significant pace.