Politics

File photo. A migration and asylum bill under debate in Parliament has sparked strong criticism from opposition parties, independent authorities, and international organizations. Critics argue the bill violates international conventions and introduces unworkable measures. The Association of Administrative Judges said migration “cannot be addressed with repression and stricter residence or asylum rules.” The bill, to be voted Wednesday, would jail rejected asylum seekers who remain in Greece and abolish a residency permit pathway for those living in the country for seven years. Deportations for some long-term residents will be suspended until March 31, 2026. Asylum requests remain suspended for migrants arriving on Crete from Libya, despite E...

In February, Parliament approved legislation that legalized same-sex marriage as well as adoption and parental rights for same-sex couples. Elections for the European Parliament in June featured record-low voter turnout of just 41 percent. The ruling center-right New Democracy party placed first with seven of the 21 contested seats, though it lost ground compared with the previous elections, and several smaller opposition parties made gains. The Supreme Court in April had banned the far-right Spartans party from participating, finding that it was effectively controlled by the imprisoned former leader of the outlawed Golden Dawn party. In July, the Supreme Court prosecutor closed an investigation into the use of Predator spyware against dozens of prominent people, including journalists, sta...

Often regarded as the world’s first analog computer, the Antikythera Mechanism is the most technologically advanced instrument known from antiquity. Built roughly 2,100 years ago, its complex system of interlocking bronze precision gears charted the movements of the planets, sun and moon. This Greek, hand-powered device also predicted eclipses, tracked the moon’s phases and displayed the dates of the ancient Olympics.“It’s almost unbelievable in its brilliance,” says Tony Freeth, a member of the University College London Antikythera Research Team, who has been studying the Antikythera Mechanism for two and a half decades. He adds that it encompasses most “everything that was known about astronomy at the time.”Prior to its discovery in 1901, the ancient Greeks were believed to have crafted ...

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The Greek government announced on Wednesday that it would suspend the processing of asylum applications for migrants arriving to the country by sea from Libya. This measure is to last at least three months. This decision followed the arrival of more than 2,000 migrants to the Aegean island of Crete in recent days. This influx has led to discontent among local authorities and tourism industry representatives.Prime Minister Mitsotakis described the measures as a 'necessary temporary reaction'Image: Petros Giannakouris/AP/picture alliance What did PM Mitsotakis say about the decision to suspend asylum applications? Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced in parliament that migrants currently arriving in large numbers on the island of Crete will also be detained. Crete is one of Greece...

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s conservative government is seeking to ban protests at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, an iconic monument outside Parliament in Athens which has frequently been the site of demonstrations. Opposition parties accuse the prime minister of intolerance and of sowing division.The area in front of the monument has become the focal point for protests by some of the relatives of victims of Greece’s deadliest train crash. The February 2023 disaster, in which a freight train and a passenger train heading in opposite directions collided after being put on the same track, killed 57 people, mostly students returning to university after a public holiday.Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government submitted an amendment to the law governing the care of the monument that ...

What began as regional demonstrations has evolved into a coordinated nationwide movement, with major transport arteries increasingly disrupted and farmers vowing to maintain their actions until concrete solutions are delivered. Highway Blockades Expand in Thessaly The main protest hub remains Nikaia, where tractors continue to block the national highway. Farmers there unanimously agreed to intensify their actions, closing nearby service roads on Monday evening to increase pressure on authorities. Protesters say they will not withdraw without firm government commitments. In Thessaly, farmers are planning one of their most symbolic actions yet: a joint blockade of the port of Volos on Wednesday morning. Local fishers are expected to participate from the sea, underscoring concerns ov...

The opening of the “Rudozem – Xanthi” border crossing is a direct investment in the regions on both sides of the Bulgarian-Greek border, outgoing Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov and outgoing Minister of Foreign Affairs Georg Georgiev said at a government meeting. The comments follow the official inauguration on January 20 of the Rudozem–Xanthi road, which had been delayed for decades. “Opening the road is a concrete example of the benefits of cross-border cooperation and has the potential to boost transport connectivity, infrastructure development, investment, tourism, and people-to-people contacts. It is a major gain for the residents of the Rhodopes and the neighboring regions in Greece”, Georg Georgiev said and thanked the Greek partners for their constructive approach.Edited by Ivo Iva...

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Popular Greek singer-songwriter Dionysis Savvopoulos, known for his allegorical and deeply poetic lyrics that commented on Greek politics, identity and society, has died. He was 80. A prominent figure on the Greek cultural and intellectual scene, Savvopoulos died Tuesday night, his family announced on his official social media account. The musician had been hospitalized in recent days, and had been battling cancer for several years. Known by his nickname Nionios — a commonly used nickname for Dionysis — Savvopoulos rose to prominence in the 1960s, gaining national fame with his subtly revolutionary songs during the 1967-1974 military dictatorship. He was briefly imprisoned by the junta, and his songs became anthems of resistance for youths...

GCT newsroom – 2 min read Popular singer Konstantinos Argyros has reportedly held talks with senior New Democracy officials in Athens’ Southern Suburbs about joining the party’s ticket for the 2027 elections. Sources say the 39-year-old artist is considering running either in the Athens A constituency or the Southern Sector of Athens B. Though Argyros has never expressed political ambitions before, his recent close friendship with U.S. Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle – and his public comments about wanting to help Greece with its social problems – have added fuel to the speculation. Who is Konstantinos Argyros? Born in Athens in 1986, Konstantinos Argyros rose to fame after appearing on the talent show Fame Story 3 in 2004. He quickly became one of Greece’s biggest pop-la...