Politics

Stefanos Kasselakis was president of the leftist SYRIZA. Credit: Eva The Lefty / Public Domain An Athens court on Thursday convicted Stefanos Kasselakis, the leader of the Movement for Democracy party, and gave him a suspended prison sentence of 30 months. The court also slapped him with a 50,000 euro fine over a discrepancy in the wealth declaration he submitted while he was president of leftist opposition SYRIZA. Politicians, journalists and other public or high-profile figures are required to submit an annual declaration listing all of their assets, including the balance of their bank accounts, stock holdings, etc., as well as any businesses or business partnerships they may be involved in. Charges were brought against Kasselakis after it was discovered that he had a company in the Unit...

The latest news from the “front” involving farmers’ mobilizations around the country has Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis ready to meet with their representatives as long as the latter remove farm equipment from major highway intersections.According to government sources on Wednesday evening, any delegation of producers would have to represent all of groups manning roadblocks.The circulated information comes as the government’s relevant deputy PM and agriculture minister have tabled what’s billed as the “best and last offer”.The development coincides with a decision taken at an impromptu general assembly of farmers at the Malgara toll booth for a two-day blocking of four border posts (Promachonas, Exochi, Niki and Evzoni – in northern Greece – on the frontier with Bulgaria and North Mace...

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis received Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew at the Maximos Mansion on Thursday in Athens.During their brief dialogue in front of the reporters present, the Patriarch relayed the warm wishes of the Orthodox priesthood in Istanbul to the Greek Prime Minister while highlighting the fact that their meeting coincided with the 150th anniversary of the Greek state granting to the Patriarchate a church in downtown Athens.The Holy Church of Saint Nicholas, located at the corner of Vasilisis Sofias Avenue and Ploutarchou Street in Athens, was erected in 1875 and was granted by the newly established Greek state after the 1821 War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire to the Patriarchate of Constantinople.On his part, after welcoming Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholom...

(This reportage was originally published by the Czech outlet Denik Referendum  in the framework of PULSE) I meet 60-year-old Alex on the terrace of a hostel run by a kindly elderly couple on a hill outside the town of Himara in southern Albania. From here we have a breathtaking view. The green rounded hills are followed by wrinkles of grey rocky cliffs. The sandy beach is licked by a clear, azure sea like something out of a travel agent’s catalogue. It’s eight in the morning on a sunny Saturday in Himara, unusually warm for the end of January. Alex is wearing a black baseball cap and a sweatshirt, a massive gold chain falling from his neck. “Let me tell you something. This is a Greek town, an old Greek town. All the place names are Greek,” he wheezes in a barely audible voice, his eyes fi...

In a bid to keep two of Greece’s most cherished islands free of traffic-clutter and exhaust fumes, senior officials convened at the Maximos Mansion last night and agreed on tighter controls for every wheel that rolls on Hydra and Spetses.The meeting brought together Culture Minister Lina Mendoni, Attica Governor Nikos Hardalias, Minister of State Akis Skertsos and a clutch of police, coast-guard and municipal leaders, each determined to safeguard what makes the Saronic pair special.Hydra, long celebrated for its stone mansions, donkey lanes and total absence of cars, will see its existing ban on wheeled vehicles policed far more aggressively. Although the legal framework is already watertight—every bicycle and delivery cart technically requires a licence from the Ministry of Culture—offici...

The Greek government on Monday launched "Kids Wallet," a state-operated mobile application that allows parents to monitor their children's screen time and verify their age on digital platforms and social networks. "We are giving parents a powerful tool to protect their children online," said Digital Governance Minister Dimitris Papastergiou, presenting the new digital instrument in Athens. "This is an application that Greece — and Europe — needs to confirm children's ages when they use social media," Papastergiou added. "It will also serve as an identification tool for upcoming initiatives." Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis expressed his support for the initiative as well as his concern about the impact of technology on family life. "You see families in restaurants where parents and c...

ATHENS – Maria Karystianou, whose daughter died in the 2023 Tempi train crash, said on Monday that a new political party would soon be launched, as her public profile continues to rise in Greece. She ruled out cooperation with established politicians. Karystianou, a paediatrician, rose to prominence after founding a group representing families of victims of the deadliest rail disaster in modern Greek history. The crash claimed 57 lives – mostly young people – triggering mass protests in Greece and other European cities. She has since campaigned for political accountability, arguing that responsibility has been evaded through constitutional immunity protections for ministers. In December, Karystianou told Euractiv that the European Commission also bears responsibility, saying Greece has lon...

The Greek government is expected to announce detailed support measures for farmers on Wednesday, as tensions remain high and protests continue across the country. Officials signaled that the measures will be final, warning that no additional concessions will be offered if farmers continue to reject dialogue.The announcement, expected around midday, will be made by a group of senior ministers, including those responsible for agriculture, finance, economic coordination, and digital governance. The exact timing had not been finalized as of late Tuesday night.Government officials say they remain open to talks but acknowledge that their calls for dialogue have so far gone unanswered. At the same time, protests have intensified, prompting a tougher tone from the government. Speaking on behalf of...

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced a meeting with farmer representatives on Monday at 5 PM, signaling the government’s willingness to engage in dialogue amid ongoing agricultural protests.Speaking at a parliamentary session of his New Democracy party, Mitsotakis highlighted the country’s economic progress, referencing the recent election of Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis to the Eurogroup presidency as evidence of Greece’s rise from financial crisis to international prominence.“Where are those who once predicted failure and isolation for our country?” Mitsotakis asked, noting that Greece has moved from the European periphery to a leading position among developed economies, thanks to citizens’ sacrifices and a commitment to realistic policies over populism.Support for FarmersA...

The report says Pappas followed the two journalists toward the exit and twice hit Yiannopoulos from behind, knocking him to the ground. The two journalists said they returned to the bar, and as the Greeks tried to leave they bumped into Pappas, who threatened them. An hour later Pappas sent apologies by text message and tried to reach the journalist by phone, but he did not reply. Yiannopoulos filed a complaint with local police. POLITICO reached out to Pappas, but he did not reply to a request for comment. Syriza President Socrates Famellos subsequently expelled Pappas from the party’s European Parliament group and requested that Syriza’s ethics committee also expel him from the wider ranks, according to a senior Syriza official. “This incident follows previous instances o...