Politics

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...

In the early hours of Wednesday, over five hundred people were rescued off the tiny Greek island of Gavdos, having packed into a boat from Libya in the hope of reaching Europe. That same afternoon, Greece’s prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, announced that his country would suspend asylum applications for the next three months. Critics argue that the pause has no basis in Greek, European Union, or international law. In the immediate term, it will have devastating consequences for asylum seekers. It further reveals Greece’s ongoing project of chiseling away at the right to asylum, until only dust is left. In the Greek Parliament on Wednesday afternoon, Mitsotakis linked the suspension to an increase in arrivals of asylum seekers on the southernmost Greek islands of Gavdos and Crete. He co...

On September 21, 2023, Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis visited Yale University’s Schwarzman Center to engage in a dialogue with Yale College Dean Pericles Lewis. The event, part of the Dean’s Dialogue Series, saw the Prime Minister emphasizing the importance of young people entering politics to drive societal change. Mitsotakis shared his personal journey from the private sector to politics and encouraged students and young professionals to consider a career in political leadership. He discussed the need for grooming the next generation of leaders and the challenges and rewards of working in politics. The event ended with a lively Q&A session and enthusiastic interactions with the audience. As he departed Yale to address the United Nations General Assembly, Mitsotakis l...

Greece plans to soon ban access to social media for children under 15, government sources say, adding that working groups have been set up. Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou said his office is ready to implement the measure from the day it is announced by the prime minister. Papastergiou said Europe was forced over the summer to issue common guidance on age verification and that Greece is the only country to have implemented it. He referred to the Kids Wallet parental control application developed by the Greek government and the Wallet application, through which users’ ages on social media platforms in Greece will be verified. He said France is expected to be ready for a similar type of age verification within the next two months, while other countries will likely adopt sim...

Pavlos De Grece and his family. File photo. Credit: AMNA In a high-stakes interview, Pavlos de Grèce, the former Crown Prince of Greece, delivered a carefully balanced message: he is a loyal citizen of the Republic but one whose “blood” and education keep him permanently tethered to the political arena. When pressed by Greek journalist Nikos Chatzinikolaou on whether he would follow the path of King Simeon of Bulgaria, who returned from exile to become Prime Minister, Pavlos did not issue a flat “never.” “Many things pass through my mind,” he admitted when asked about establishing a party. While he followed this up by adding he is “not a politician,” the phrase suggests he is at least weighing his options. He emphasized that politics is “in his blood” and that his life has been shaped ...

The leader of Greece’s main opposition party, PASOK, Nikos Androulakis submitted a no-confidence vote against the New Democracy government to the President of Parliament on Wednesday during a scheduled debate on the Tempi train crash.The motion was backed by the other opposition parties SYRIZA, Nea Aristera (New Left), and Plefsi Eleftherias (Course of Freedom). The 16-page agreement outlines the government’s responsibility, mistakes, and omissions in handling the Tempi train crash tragedy.Among other things, the document raises the issues of the lack of critical safety systems, severe staff shortages, and lack of proper oversight plaguing railway operations.It continues by stressing that despite receiving explicit and official warnings, both Prime Minister Mitsotakis and ex-Minister Karam...

When the Greek prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, visited Germany in mid-May, it was a welcome break from the difficult time he has been having at home. The Economic Council of the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), the party of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, awarded him the Ludwig Erhard Foundation Gold Medal, which gave the conservative politician the opportunity to highlight his successes in growing the Greek economy by 2.3% in 2024 and reducing unemployment by 9.5% in the same year. However, Mitsotakis' meeting with Merz also had its downside, especially with regard to refugees and migration. In theory, the two conservative governments are in agreement: both are determined to stop irregular immigration to Europe. Both have appointed known hard-liners as ministers responsible for ...

English peppered primarily with words of Greek origin. Credit: Public domain On Greek Language Day, many Greeks recall the speeches in English, peppered with words and phrases of Greek origin, delivered in the late 1950s by economist and politician Xenophon Zolotas. Zolotas was the director of the Bank of Greece when he appeared before an audience at an International Bank for Reconstruction and Development conference in 1959. He delivered two speeches in English using primarily Greek words to emphasize the wealth of the Greek language and the fact that countless Greek words enrich English. Greek remains a language that profoundly influences international scientific discourse; more than any other, it developed, shaped, and expressed the earliest scientific theories, philosophical thought, a...