MacroPolis

Tracing the decline of the middle class as parties vie for its votes

By: Georgia Nakou

Since key constituencies, including private and public sector workers and the young, abandoned governing SYRIZA to hand New Democracy a comfortable 9.5 percent lead in the May 26 European Parliament elections, the parties have been vying for the middle-class vote.

Mitsotakis focuses on investment and taxes as ND launches election campaign

In his first speech of the July 7 election campaign, New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis focussed on investments and tax cuts, which are considered two of his party’s strongest cards in its contest with SYRIZA.

Parties' competing tax pledges come up against challenging reality

By: Georgia Nakou

The government and opposition in Greece have started to unfold their manifestos in anticipation of national elections which are now scheduled for July 7.

New overdue taxes rise at lower rate in Apr, total debt at 104.6 bln

​The month-on-month rise in Greece's new tax debt came to 265 million euros in April, data from the Independent Authority of Public Revenues (IAPR) has shown.

EC warns budget not on track due to handouts, advises against further underspend

Greece’s official creditors have recently expressed at various levels their concerns about whether the country will be able to meet its fiscal commitments after adopting a new batch of expansionary measures last month, so it was no surprise that this issue was explored extensively in the latest post-programme surveillance report published by the European Commission.

Institutions warn of fiscal target being missed, reforms slowing

The European Commission issued on Wednesday its third report of the enhanced surveillance period, highlighting concerns about the fiscal impact of the government’s expansionary measures and noting a slowdown in reforms.

Payment plans for overdue debts launched as Athens looks for revenue boost

There appears to have been keen interest in the schemes launched this week allowing taxpayers to settle their unpaid taxes and social security contributions in up to 120 instalments, possibly boosting the government’s efforts to convince the institutions that Greece will be able to meet its fiscal targets this year.

New overdue taxes rise by 489 mln in Mar, total legacy and new debt at 104.5 bln

The month-on-month rise in Greece's new tax debt came to 489 million euros in March, data from the Independent Authority of Public Revenues (IAPR) has shown.

SYRIZA looks to eat further into ND's poll lead in final week of campaign

The last week of campaigning ahead of Sunday’s European Parliament and local elections promises to be intense as opinion polls suggest that SYRIZA is closing the gap on New Democracy in the wake of the adoption of the latest package of so-called positive measures.

Athens moves ahead with expansionary measures as it waits for lenders' response

The Greek government is set to find out this week what the institutions think about the package of positive measures submitted to Parliament on Monday and due to be voted into law by Wednesday.