Politics

When Alexis Tsipras, former prime minister of Greece and ex-leader of the left-wing SYRIZA party, announced his resignation as a member of parliament this week, he made it clear that this was not a farewell to politics altogether. “I am not resigning from political activity,” Tsipras emphasised. For months, political talk show panels have been discussing the possibility of Tsipras setting up a new party, but no one had predicted his immediate resignation as a SYRIZA MP. His move surprised not only his political opponents but also his close associates. SYRIZA’s current leader, Socrates Famellos, acknowledged Tsipras’s decision respectfully, emphasising that despite the fact that they have different perspectives on how to get rid of the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his centre-right ...

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has said his recent remarks about ancient philosophers and modern Greeks were misinterpreted by Greek media, stressing that his comments were made in a spirit of “friendly humor.” Rama addressed the issue in a post on X on Friday, following reactions in Greece to statements he made during a panel discussion with Greek-American journalist John Defterios at the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. During the discussion, Rama said that Greeks often “underestimate others” because they believe they hold a “monopoly on philosophy” and see themselves as the “direct heirs of Plato and Aristotle,” adding, “but you are not.” In his response, Rama said he was “truly surprised by the reaction of some media outlets in Athens and a Greek politician regarding a report of mine, ...

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered a resolute message during today's cabinet meeting, declaring: “In turbulent times, the strength of our values alone is not enough. We also need the value of our strength.” He stressed the urgent need to bolster Greece across multiple fronts, stating that “strengthening the homeland in defense, diplomacy, economy, and society is critical.” In an era of uncertainty, he added, “political stability is a national necessity.” A key highlight was his proposal to expand voting rights for Greeks abroad through postal voting in national elections, coupled with the creation of a special three-seat constituency dedicated to the diaspora. Under this plan, the total number of nationwide parliamentary seats would revert to 12, while the electoral thresho...

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...