Friday, February 13

Politics

Why the Left Fell and the Right Rose in Greece
Politics

Why the Left Fell and the Right Rose in Greece

Of the three small right-wing parties that entered parliament in the last elections, the Spartans party is the most notable in that it includes former Golden Dawn members and received more votes than the others. As a result of the ban on the National Party-Hellenes, led by former Golden Dawn MP Ilias Kasidiaris, its candidates participated in the June 25 elections from the lists of an unnamed nationalist party called “Spartans.” In this way, the far right of the Golden Dawn line re-entered parliament after a four-year absence. Kasidiaris, who is still in prison, has signaled that he will lead a fierce opposition in parliament after the elections. However, given the recent sensitivity of the judiciary to far-right activities, the party may face judicial investigations if it pushes the bound...
Medium-Term Investment Challenges for the Greek Economy
Politics

Medium-Term Investment Challenges for the Greek Economy

More than €30 billion are expected to enter the Greek economy from EU sources by 2027, out of total entitlements of €70 billion for the 2021–2027 period. Roughly half of these resources derive from the EU Recovery Plan (NGEU), while the remainder consists of structural funds under the EU budget. According to Bank of Greece estimates, full implementation of the recovery plan could raise real GDP by approximately 7% by 2026 (Bank of Greece, 2025). The medium-term challenge, however, lies in recalibrating the mix of public and private investment to secure sustainable growth. The endogenous recovery of investment in Greece began from an exceptionally low base after the crisis (2019: 11% of GDP). Yet, invested capital appears highly productive and profitable: real GDP per unit of capital is ...
Former Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis dies aged 88
Politics

Former Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis dies aged 88

By&nbspeuronews&nbspwith&nbspΑΠΕ-ΜΠΕ Published on 05/01/2025 - 17:30 GMT+1 Costas Simitis, the former Greek Prime Minister, has passed away at the age of 88. According to reports, he was found unconscious at his country residence in Agioi Theodoroi and was rushed to Corinth hospital, where doctors were unable to revive him. ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT His funeral will take place on 9 January at the Metropolis of Athens. The ceremony will be held with full state honours and at public expense, in recognition of his significant contribution to Greece. In light of his passing, the Gr...
Tensions Rise as Greek Government Issues Ultimatum to Protesting Farmers
Politics

Tensions Rise as Greek Government Issues Ultimatum to Protesting Farmers

PM Mitsotakis issued a 48-hour ultimatum to farmers to lift road blockades. Credit: AMNA The standoff between the Greek government and protesting farmers intensified on Tuesday as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis issued a 48-hour ultimatum for the removal of road blockades. Following a heated 3.5-hour meeting with representatives from fourteen blockade sites, the Prime Minister warned that authorities would intervene as early as Thursday if the disruptions persisted. Mitsotakis stated that the government’s patience has reached its limit, accusing a “partisan minority” of “blackmailing society” through illegal blockades. While the Ministry of Citizen Protection has previously avoided direct confrontation, officials indicated that police action is now on the table to restore order. He ...
Greek defence minister likely to skip high-level talks in Türkiye
Politics

Greek defence minister likely to skip high-level talks in Türkiye

Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias, accessed on Feb. 10, 2026. (AA Photo) February 10, 2026 12:04 AM GMT+03:00 Greek Defence Minister Nikos Dendias is unlikely to attend a high-level meeting between Turkish and Greek leaders in Ankara on Wednesday, citing a scheduling conflict that some sources believe may reflect deeper political positioning within the Greek cabinet.Dendias reportedly plans to attend an EU defence ministers' summit in Brussels on the same day, officials told Middle East Eye. However, sources familiar with his thinking suggest the Brussels summit serves as a convenient excuse to avoid the Ankara meeting, allowing him to maintain his stance as a hardline voice on Türkiye within the Greek government.A Greek official cautioned that the final attendee list from t...
Pavlos de Grèce on the possibility of creating a political party: “A lot goes through my mind”
Politics

Pavlos de Grèce on the possibility of creating a political party: “A lot goes through my mind”

Pavlos de Grèce responded, “a lot goes through my mind,” when asked whether he is considering founding a political party, as the last king of Bulgaria, Simeon, once did. He also reassured that “Democracy and the Constitution are absolutely secure. It’s 2026, democracy continues strongly, and there is absolutely no question of a return to monarchy.” “I have obtained citizenship and I live among you with my name. I am a Greek who grew up abroad and has returned. I want to be useful to my country; I am not asking to do anything different,” he said on ANT1 on Thursday evening. When asked about the example of the last king of Bulgaria, Simeon, whose party won elections, Pavlos de Grèce said: “A lot goes through my mind. I am very interested in politics; my life has changed because of poli...
Greek PM in Ankara for Talks
Politics

Greek PM in Ankara for Talks

The meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has concluded after lasting nearly 90 minutes. Following the conclusion of the leaders’ meeting, a signing ceremony for bilateral agreements took place and is followed by joint statements by Mitsotakis and Erdogan.Watch the statements by the two leaders:Mitsotakis arrived in Ankara shortly before 3 p.m. Greek time on Wednesday for the official talks.Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, Turkey, February 11, 2026. Murat Cetinmuhurdar/PPOThe visit marks the 11th meeting overall between Mitsotakis and Erdogan. The talks were held in the framework of the 6th High-Level Cooperation Council between Greece and...
Greek PM’s Wife Hospitalized After Accident in Milan
Politics

Greek PM’s Wife Hospitalized After Accident in Milan

The wife of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is recovering in a hospital after suffering an accident in Milan during a trip to attend the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games, officials said.Mareva Grabowski-Mitsotaki underwent surgery on both hands at a hospital in Athens after returning from Italy. The procedures were performed by the head of the hospital’s hand and microsurgery unit. According to available information, her condition is good and she remains hospitalized for recovery, with the prime minister by her side.The accident occurred on Saturday while the couple was in Milan for the opening of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. On Friday evening, the prime minister had traveled to the Italian city with his wife to attend the ceremony.Earlier, Mitsotakis shared...
Have Greek politics finally settled down?
Politics

Have Greek politics finally settled down?

For a nation that has been through as much political and economic turmoil as Greece has had to endure during a decade-long financial crisis, the results of its parliamentary elections on May 21 came as a surprise. No pollster or political analyst expected the kind of comfortable lead that the country’s ruling New Democracy Party secured under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.  At 40 percent of the vote (and a whopping 20 percentage points above second-place Syriza, the leftist party of former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras) the New Democracy Party’s showing was higher than when Mitsotakis was first elected to power in 2019. In fact, it is the best of any incumbent Greek government in half a century. The impressive win is widely considered a vote of confidence in the Greek prime ministe...
Greece country profile – BBC News
Politics

Greece country profile – BBC News

Some key dates in modern Greek history: 1821-1829 - Greek War of Independence from Ottoman Empire.1832 - Prince Otto of Bavaria is chosen as the first king of independent Greece.1913 - Greece gains Epirus, Macedonia, Crete and the North Aegean Islands from the Ottomans in the First Balkan War, and then West Thrace from Bulgaria in the Second Balkan War.1919-22 - Greco-Turkish War - Greek invasion of Asia Minor prompted by the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after World War One is defeated by Turkish forces.1936 - General Ioannis Metaxas appointed prime minister, establishes right-wing dictatorship.1940 - Italian dictator Benito Mussolini's forces attack Greece from Italian-held Albania, but are repelled.1941 - Metaxas dies. Greece falls to German forces. More than 100,000 die in famine.1942...