Politics

It took a long time, but finance ministers of the 17-nation Eurozone, after months of wrangling with Greece, on Dec. 13 agreed to release a first series of 34.3 billion euros ($46.7 billion) almost immediately, and another 14.8 billion...

Greek officials said on Dec. 12 they need an additional 1.29 billion euros ($1.68 billion) to finish a plan to buy back 30 billion euros ($31.9 billion) because the government had to offer a higher than expected price to...

Nikos Chountis, a Member of the European Parliament for the far-leftist SYRIZA party, pressed European Commission officials why international lenders insisted on reducing unemployment benefits as part of austerity measures attached to bailouts. Commission officials told Chountis that Greece's unemployed...

After rejecting an earlier offer, Greece’s state privatization fund (TAIPED) has reportedly accepted a better bid from consortium led by the state’s OPAP gambling operation for a license to operate all state lotteries for the next 12 years, although...

A protest by Greek city and town officials who are refusing to compile a list of workers to be laid off and eventually fired has become more intense, as the Ministry of Administrative Reform keeps pressing for the names...

Austalia's Ambassador to Greece, Jenny Bloomfield, visited Melbourne on Dec. 10 to meet with officials of the Hellenic-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (HACCI) who hosted a dinner for her, where she talked about improving relations between the countries. Bloomfield...

While Greeks are suffering through a crushing economic crisis in the wake of 2 1/2 years of pay cuts, tax hikes and slashed pensions, the lawmakers who have approved the government-imposed austerity measures are mostly luxuriating in riches, according...

The new World Council of Greeks Abroad (SAE) is being organized. The draft laws are prepared and entering officially, from now until Jan. 31 for public consultation. All Greeks abroad have the opportunity to share their suggestions and ideas...

With the backing of its own banks, Greek officials said they met a target to buy back 30 billion euros ($38.96 billion) of bonds held by investors, goal international lenders set to trigger the release of long-delayed 34.4 billion...

Twenty young unemployed Greeks, invited by MEP George Hatzimarkakis in Brussels, attended the European Parliament and heard Lazlo Andor, European Commissioner responsible for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, to announce the new measures taken to fight unemployment. All 20 have...

Greek farmers, many taking to the streets in tractors, protested again against new tax regulations they said would hurt their businesses. Farmers in Karditsa held a rally in their city's center. Larissa’s farmers have organized a rally for Dec. 8...

A hated 100 percent property tax surcharge put into electric bills by former finance minister Evangelos Venizelos, now the head of the PASOK Socialists, will keep being collected, despite a court order ruling it’s illegal, Greek government officials said. Venizelos,...

Desperate for cash, Greece is reportedly going to get an offer from Qatar to take over troubled Greek defense companies as part of a long-delayed massive privatization that could see the sell-off of major industries and assets. Qatar’s interest in...

Independent Greeks spokesman Christos Zois left the party on Dec. 11 in the middle of a feud with party leader Panos Kammenos, who earlier in the day ejected one of his lawmakers, Yiannis Manolis as a Member of Parliament...

Greek right-wing politician, MP of New Democracy Party and Chairman of the Committee for Greeks Abroad at the Greek Parliament, Adonis Georgiadis, gave hope to Greeks abroad for voting in the next general election. Georgiadis and his wife, Eugenia Manolidou...