MacroPolis

Athens taking more time to consider 2019 measures ahead of budget talks

Apart from its effect on the government’s cohesion and political outlook, the recent wildfire on the outskirts of Athens is also having an impact on the preparations for next year’s budget.

Last bailout tranche just days away as pension discussion looms

All the hurdles have been cleared for Greece to receive the last tranche of the third and final bailout as focus shifts to the discussions that Athens is due to have with the institutions in the coming weeks, particularly on the issue of next year’s pension cuts.

Government indicates readiness to play waiting game on pension cuts

The pension cuts due in 2019 continue to dominate the Greek political agenda, with the latest intervention from a government official suggesting that Athens has no intention of acting on this issue without first reaching an understanding with the European institutions.

Mitsotakis warns party to be ready for elections as political contest intensifies

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis is attempting to ensure that his party will be prepared for the next elections amid concerns that Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras may call a snap vote with the aim of catching the conservatives off guard.

Pension cuts dominate discussion as eurozone prepares to release final bailout tranche

Ahead of the rubber-stamping of Greece’s post-programme surveillance and Friday’s Eurogroup, the discussion about next year’s pension cuts is continuing.

Moscovici hints at possibility of shelving 2019 pension cuts, riles opposition

During his visit to Athens on Tuesday, European Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici seemed to suggest that Greece might not have to implement the pension cuts that have been lined up for next year.

The first cut is the deepest? Greek pension reforms in context

By: Georgia Nakou

It is 5:59am on a Sunday morning. The host of the morning talk show, a man of near-pensionable age – a look he has affected for well over a decade – adopts an alarmed look. The caption screams “NEW PENSIONS MASSACRE”. Projected on the backdrop, a dense table of numbers several columns wide defies legibility, and several talking heads are lined up in a panel to argue vociferously and incoherently over how badly pensioners can expect to suffer from the latest spending cuts.

Concerns raised about next year's pensions cuts

Employees at Greece's main social security fund have raised the alarm regarding the extent to which pensions will be cut next year, when Greece is expected to trim its spending on retirees by 1 percent of GDP, or 1.8 billion euros.

Fiscal issues appear settled as Greece and institutions head for review deal

There appears to have been a breakthrough in the negotiations between Greece and the institutions regarding fiscal issues, which would remove one of the biggest obstacles towards reaching a staff-level agreement on May 24.

Mission chiefs take up negotiations in Athens but focus on IMF's decision

The institutions’ mission chiefs are due to begin talks with Greek government officials in Athens on Wednesday with the aim of reaching a staff-level agreement by next week.