Politics

The Greek government is preparing a tougher response to ongoing farmer protests, as talks appear to have reached an impasse and demonstrators threaten to block major highways and border crossings for 48 hours later this week. Senior officials met at the prime minister’s office in Athens to decide the government’s stance, with authorities signaling that the farmers’ ultimatum for road closures on Thursday and Friday will be met with a firm counter-warning. Officials say administrative penalties and fines will be imposed if the blockades proceed. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis convened an emergency meeting with key ministers and agency heads to review both incentives and enforcement options. On the table are measures aimed at easing pressure on farmers, including cheaper electricity f...

The Greek government is preparing a tougher response to ongoing farmer protests, as talks appear to have reached an impasse and demonstrators threaten to block major highways and border crossings for 48 hours later this week.Senior officials met at the prime minister’s office in Athens to decide the government’s stance, with authorities signaling that the farmers’ ultimatum for road closures on Thursday and Friday will be met with a firm counter-warning. Officials say administrative penalties and fines will be imposed if the blockades proceed.Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis convened an emergency meeting with key ministers and agency heads to review both incentives and enforcement options. On the table are measures aimed at easing pressure on farmers, including cheaper electricity for ag...

Following the Greek government reshuffle, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has made it clear to his ministers that their performance over the next six months will be crucial. Those personally informed by Mitsotakis received two key messages: “I want work and results” and “Forget about vacations.” A senior official within the ruling New Democracy party emphasized that, by September, the government must deliver tangible progress or risk losing momentum, potentially accelerating early elections.Although Mitsotakis appointed experienced ministers, concerns remain about whether the reshuffle will provide enough stability to last until the end of his term in 2027.Clear Priorities in the “Blue Folder”At the first cabinet meeting, ministers received a blue folder containing a single-page outline...

July in Greece is once again defined by scorching temperatures and sun-scorched landscapes — but this summer, the rising heat is highlighting a far more pressing and persistent issue: water scarcity. As climate pressures mount, the Greek government is moving forward with a major €11 billion investment plan to overhaul its fragmented water management system.Amid growing concerns over droughts and a steadily worsening water crisis, Greece is preparing a comprehensive reform aimed at modernizing and unifying its water infrastructure. According to a government-commissioned study by Deloitte, the country urgently needs structural changes to ensure long-term water supply and sustainability.A National Water Strategy in the MakingThe Deloitte report details how disorganized management and aging in...

Greece appeared in the news in Israel over the last several weeks, as Israelis on a cruise ship were denied entry because of anti-Israel protesters, and as pro-Palestine rallies in several cities in Greece made headlines. But that belies a larger, positive trend of the past few years. Greece was historically one of the most hostile European countries to Israel. While it granted de facto recognition in 1949, Athens aligned itself with Arab states in the 1950s and up through the 80s, with Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou (1981–89) openly backing the PLO. Greece was the last European bloc country to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel, doing so only in 1990 under Konstantinos Mitsotakis, father of the current prime minister. Even then, relations remained frosty, shaped by Greece’s tie...

Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis held a one-hour meeting on Sunday, July 6, in Benghazi with General Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army. The visit, which focused on curbing irregular migration and addressing maritime zone issues, reflects Athens’ broader strategy to deepen ties with Libya and reinforce regional stability.The discussions centered primarily on the growing migration flows toward Crete, with Greece aiming to coordinate efforts with Libyan authorities to manage and reduce these movements. Maritime boundaries in the Eastern Mediterranean—an ongoing point of geopolitical sensitivity—were also on the agenda.Greece is seeking to strengthen its diplomatic presence in both the eastern and western parts of Libya. During the meeting, Gerapetritis emphasize...

For the first time in many years—at least 15, by most estimates—mayors across Greece have decided to act as one. On December 16, the very day Parliament votes on the state budget for 2026, city halls and municipal services across the country are shutting down in a coordinated protest against what local leaders describe as the financial “strangulation” of local communities.The move, decided by the Central Union of Greek Municipalities (KEDE), cuts across party lines and ideological divisions. From Athens and Thessaloniki to Piraeus, Patras and dozens of smaller cities, elected mayors are closing municipal buildings and gathering outside the Greek Parliament at noon, demanding administrative and financial autonomy for local government within a genuinely decentralized state.On Wednesday, Dece...

European Chief Prosecutor Laura Kovesi is scheduled to arrive in Greece on the evening of Tuesday, September 30, to review the legal proceedings in two high-profile cases, the Tempi rail disaster investigation and the farming (OPEKEPE) scandal, both of which are still in the Greek public arena.Laura Kovesi is expected to hold a press conference and will address all major issues within her jurisdiction. During her stay, she will visit the Athens office of the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) and meet with senior national officials, including government ministers, the police chief, customs authorities, and the attorney general. Her visit will focus on cases of fraud against the European Union that are currently being investigated by EPPO’s Greek branch.Kovesi served as the Romanian...

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis meets with the European Council President Antonio Costa at the Greek Maximos Mansion early Monday morning.Greek Foreign Minister Giorgos Gerapetritis will also attend the meeting.The talks are expected to focus on key European policy, economic collaboration, and regional security issues and the meeting will be followed by a press conference.Mitsotakis and Costa preceeded their meeting with a private dinner on Sunday night at the Maximos Mansion.Costa is the former PM of Portugal and this is his first visit to Athens under his new role at European Council President, which he undertook in 2024.He is the second longest serving PM of Portugal, representing the country’s social party. Source link

As the year draws to a close, the Greek government finds itself caught between two competing imperatives: containing a wave of farmer protests that has proven stubbornly resistant while trying to remind the public of its purported progress on several economic and social issues.The protests, marked by tractor blockades on major roads, have become an acute political headache for the government and, by extension, for the prime minister’s office, commonly referred to in Greece as “Maximos,” shorthand for the Maximos Mansion, the seat of executive power. Despite appeals for dialogue, the standoff remains unresolved, and government officials now openly acknowledge that earlier communication tactics failed to defuse tensions.A looming “Plan B”Over the past several days, senior government figures ...