Politics
Government pledges more reforms, but economy set to prove deciding factor in 2025
After suffering a more turbulent year than it expected, the government is aiming to regain its footing in 2025 by returning to the reform agenda that served as the flagship of its first term in office. However, its record regarding the performance of the Greek economy will likely be the factor that determines whether New Democracy enjoys a better year or not.
Government lines up bills on education and housing, mulls social media controls for minors
The government is drafting several pieces of legislation for the resumption of parliamentary activity after the holidays, focussing on secondary education reform and boosting the housing supply, while the PM’s office is said to be considering ways of limiting access to harmful social media content for underage users.
PM weighs up options over pick for president ahead of January decision
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis presided over the last cabinet meeting of 2024 on Monday and is aiming to meet with his ministerial team again in the second week of January, when the media’s attention will be on who the PM will pick as his candidate for the Greek presidency.
Mitsotakis looks ahead to tax tweaks for middle class, welcomes back errant MP
As 2024 draws to an end, the comments emanating from government officials indicate that much of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s focus in the New Year will be on reconnecting with middle class voters who feel they have not yet benefited from Greece’s recent economic recovery.
Support for ND edges up in new polls as voters' concerns persist
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will be buoyed by the fact that two new opinion polls show support for his New Democracy party edging up since last month, although both soundings confirm that the public’s overall mood is relatively sour, particularly because of cost-of-living issues.
Negative sentiment dominates fragmented political landscape
The latest polling figures probing the long-term trends since last summer’s European elections show a shift towards smaller parties and a shake-up of the left and centre-left space of Greek politics. The overall picture, however, is dominated by pessimism and apathy among voters, who view the economy as a major cause for concern.
Mitsotakis lets budget measures sink in as he mulls presidential pick
The measures announced in the budget appear to have hit the mark with New Democracy lawmakers, who met with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday in a pre-holiday gathering. The PM later told ERT TV that he would not be announcing his candidate for President until early in the new year.
ND denies plans to bring in more MPs as Mitsotakis waits to see impact of new measures
In the wake of Sunday’s budget vote in Parliament, New Democracy has ruled out the possibility of boosting its ranks by adding three independent MPs who were previously with far-right Spartiates to its parliamentary group.
Athens ponders Syria shake-up with particular focus on Turkey
Athens is assessing how it should react to developments in Syria after insurgents led by HTS toppled Bashar al-Assad in Damascus, triggering changes in the broader geopolitical landscape.
PM intervenes on bank charges as budget attracts extra support
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis used Sunday’s budget vote as an opportunity to respond to recent criticism from the opposition by announcing a set of voter-friendly measures, including interventions to pare back unpopular bank charges.