Politics

The fall of Constantinople marks a pivotal moment that continues to shape modern Greek identity, highlighting the resilience and pragmatic legacy of the Byzantine Empire. Credit: Theophilos Hatzimihail, Wikimedia Commons, Public Domain. The fall of Constantinople in 1453 remains a defining chapter in Greek history and marks the end of the Byzantine Empire and the beginning of centuries of Ottoman dominance. Strongly associated with this historical event is the “self-surrender theory,” a concept stemming from the Byzantine refusal to accept union with the Catholic Church during key moments of Ottoman expansion. Despite desperate appeals for military aid, attempts at reconciliation, such as the Council of Florence (1439), ultimately failed due to strong resistance from the Orthodox clergy an...

File photo. Ten days after the outbreak of a major international crisis, the Greek government is drawing its first conclusions, with officials at the prime minister’s office assessing both political gains and potential risks at home. Recent opinion measurements released Sunday appear to confirm the government’s central argument that global instability underscores the need for domestic stability. Officials say the swift dispatch of aid to Cyprus and Athens’ stance that Greece is not involved in the war while remaining fully aligned with its allies and the West has resonated with its core supporters. The approach also appealed to a broader group Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has described as “law-abiding households,” helping rally support...

Balendra Shah, Nepal’s new PM and rapper. Credit: Janak Bhatta / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0 Nepal’s new prime minister, Balendra Shah, is a rapper-turned-politician whose rise reflects the force of youth anger and calls for change. At 35, Nepal’s prime minister built his image first through music, then through public office, before leading his party to a sweeping election victory. Known widely as Balen, Shah became famous in Nepal as a rapper whose songs focused on corruption, poverty, unemployment and public frustration with politics. Trained as an engineer, he studied civil engineering in Kathmandu and later completed a master’s degree in structural engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University in Karnataka, India. He entered politics in 2022 and won the Kathmandu mayor’s ra...

Sydney – Former Greek finance minister and prominent leftist politician Yanis Varoufakis is set to appear before a Greek court on December 16, 2026, charged with “inciting others to illegal use of narcotics” — stemming from candid remarks he made about taking ecstasy at a Kylie Minogue concert in Sydney in 1989. The 64-year-old economist, who holds dual Greek-Australian citizenship and lectured at the University of Sydney from 1988 to 2000, described the prosecution as “politically motivated” and symptomatic of a “dangerous drift towards the fascist right” in Europe. Speaking to SBS Greek, Varoufakis called the case meritless and part of a broader institutional collapse. “The one takeaway from this sordid affair is that in Europe, our justice system, our media, our political system ...

Athens has the highest number of theatres per capita in the world, from traditional venues to warehouses, cellars, coffee shops, and bars—anywhere a stage can be made. The stage as a civic space Theatre and politics were inseparable in ancient Athens, where attending performances was a civic duty, and playwrights like Aristophanes, Sophocles, Aeschylus, and Euripides challenged audiences to think critically and confront moral dilemmas. Greek theatre thrives and is infused with the same ancient spirit, with Chortatzis, Katsikonouris, and Tsiotsiopoulos exploring gender, inverting traditions, and reimagining ancient motifs. A network of actors, writers, directors, designers, and educators keeps the city’s stage vibrant, innovating relentlessly, often sacrificing higher-paying work to serve t...

In briefGreek court to hear case Yanis Varoufakis incited drug use through podcast comments.The remarks referred to taking ecstasy at a Sydney Kylie Minogue concert in 1989.Former Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis has condemned his prosecution in Greece over remarks about experimenting with ecstasy in Sydney nearly 40 years ago as "politically motivated", warning the case reflects a deeper institutional decline in Europe."The one takeaway from this sordid affair is that in Europe, our justice system, our media, our political system are deconstructing themselves," Varoufakis told SBS Greek on Monday."They're fragmenting, they're losing their substance. They're being weaponised in a very insidious and dangerous drift towards the fascist right."Varoufakis said the allegations against hi...

A list of 115 alleged surveillance targets connected to the Predator spyware scandal has emerged, revealing that ministers, MPs, opposition figures, journalists and businesspeople were among those monitored. The list, published by the news website of To Vima, was compiled by the Hellenic Data Protection Authority and has become known as the “Menoudakos List”, after the authority’s former president Konstantinos Menoudakos. The disclosure follows the recent conviction of Tal Dilian, Giannis Lavranos, Felix Bitzios and Sara Hamou in connection with the Predator spyware case. According to the report, all individuals whose phone numbers were identified as potential targets of the malicious software had previously been notified through personal letters sent by Menoudakos. However, only five of t...

Foreign Affairs Minister George Gerapetritis defended Greece’s foreign policy on Thursday, stressing that the country’s international standing has grown stronger and is not accurately reflected in the opposition’s criticisms. Addressing Parliament at the request of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Gerapetritis accused opposition parties of misrepresenting Greece’s diplomatic achievements and foreign relations. “Greece is present everywhere,” he said, rejecting claims made by party leaders about the country’s alleged diplomatic absences or controversial defense decisions. The minister cited as examples PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis’ assertion that Türkiye is part of the EU’s SAFE defense fund, SYRIZA leader Sokratis Famellos’ claim that Greece is excluded from international conferences...

Yanis Varoufakis went deep into discussion among hundreds of Sydneysiders on numerous subjects, shedding light on his recent indictment in Greece, the current political climate and his latest book influenced in great part by his political mentor, his mother. The Greek economist and politician spoke in front of a filled-out crowd at the NSW Teachers’ Federation building in Surry Hills on Friday evening in an-conversation event led by Greek Australian journalist Dr Helen Vatsikopoulos. The discussion event, organised as part of the 44th Greek Festival of Sydney, touched on many topics, with his latest book ‘Raise Your Voice’ a significant one that he admitted stood out from his past writings. Varoufakis speaks with members of the audience following the discussion event, which drew hundreds o...

Government Ready to Act on Price Increases Amid Middle East Conflict The government’s commitment to intervene in any price hikes or speculative activity resulting from the Middle East war was emphasized by government spokesperson and Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister Pavlos Marinakis. “The government has proven its ability to manage crises. The duration and impact of such events cannot be predicted from the start. In emergency situations, we have consistently ensured that society is not left unprotected,” he said during a briefing with political editors, adding that any measures will remain within the budgetary framework. “The Prime Minister is in constant communication with the relevant ministers. When a plan is finalized and announcements are necessary, they will be made in a timely ...