August 8, 2018
Greece, Politics
Deputy Defense Minister Fotis Koyvelis stunned Greeks and triggered also an outrage on social media with a controversial statement linking the deadly Athens wildfires with the exit from the bailout program. In an interview with state broadcaster ERT TV, Kouvelis said he is aware of the tragedy but this cannot …
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August 2, 2018
Greece, Politics
The first minister apology for the Athens wildfires came by the deputy defense minister on Thursday morning. Even though with a delay of eleven days. The ministers of Foreign Affairs and the deputy for Citizen Protection and Public Order followed. Almost. Deputy Defense Minister, Fotis Kouvelis, said during a live …
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April 16, 2018
Politics, Turkey-GR
What was unofficial said a couple of days ago, now it seems to be the official position of Greece: we are in undeclared war with Turkey over the Aegean. This bombshell was dropped by Alternate Defense Minister Fotis Kouvelis asked to comment on the latest Turkish provocation in which Ankara …
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February 28, 2018
Greece, Politics
Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras proceeded with a mini government reshuffle on Wednesday, after he lost two ministers over the rent subsidy scandal. However, the Prime Minister did not only replaced ministers Antonopoulou and Papadimitriou but made also some changes in other ministers. The most striking changes are: a) the removal …
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October 18, 2013
Politics
Former coalition government partner Fotis Kouvelis was taken to the hospital on Friday morning after fainting. the leader of Democratic Left (DIMAR) was at the airport to fly to Kavala, when he felt unease and fainted. He received first aid from paramedics in airport and he was transferred with ambulance …
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June 21, 2013
Politics
Political council and parliamentary group of Democratic Left accepted with overwhelming majority the party leader proposal to withdraw two ministers, two deputy ministers from Samaras’ government and also several general secretaries. “DemLeft requested its ministers to submit their resignation”, high-ranking party official Chatzisokratis told media short after 3:00 pm on …
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June 20, 2013
Politics
The meeting between PM Antonis Samaras, Evangelos Venizelos (PASOK) and Fotis Kouvelis (Democratic Left) ended in impasse only 45 minutes after it started on thursday evening. It looks as if junior partner Democratic Left (Kouvelis) withdraws its support to Samaras. Kouvelis statement expected soon. 10:47 pm Fotis Kouvelis speaking: “I …
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June 20, 2013
Editor, Politics
Last night they agreed. Prime Minister Samaras and his coalition government partners Venizelos (PASOK) and Kouvelis (Democratic Left) agreed about shutdown public broadcaster ERT. They just didn’t dare to speak openly about it. Venizelos and Kouvelis kept the ‘agreement’ in secret in order to continue negotiations with Samaras in order …
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June 19, 2013
Politics
The crucial meeting of prime minister Antonis Samaras with his coalition government partners Evangelos Venizelos (PASOK) and Fotis Kouvelis (Democratic Left) started at 6 p.m. on Wednesday. The three leaders seek a compromise on re-opening of public broadcasting ERT shutdown by Samaras’ order per Legislation Act on June 11th 2013. …
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June 12, 2013
Politics
Coalition government partners Evangelos Venizelos (PASOK and Fotis Kouvelis (Democratic Left) openly invited prime minister Antonis Samaras to discuss the restructure of ERT on the condition that the public broadcaster remains open. Fotis Kouvelis: No doubt ERT needs restructuring but with ERT remaining open. It’s unacceptable for ERT to be …
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April 4, 2013
Economy, Society
Renaming “meat into fish” does not change anything. It’s still meat. However, Greece’s coalition government leaders decided to invent a new formula how to keep collecting the “emergency property tax” which turns permanent after Troika pressures. On Wednesday night, Prime minister Antonis Samaras and his coalition partners Evangelos Venizelos (PASOK) …
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November 8, 2012
Editor, Politics
With a marginal majority of 153 votes Greece’s coalition government under Prime Minister Antonis Samaras managed to pass the austerity package bill through the Greek Parliament. An austerity bill that is hard if not impossible to be implemented when in combination with the Budget 2013 will send millions of people to …
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October 25, 2012
Economy, Politics
Samaras’ junior coalition government partner Democratic Left executive committee decided on Thursday evening to reject the labour rights ‘reforms’ demanded by the Troika. In a statement after the meeting DemLeft said: “Excecutive committee of DemLeft unanimously insist on its decisions to reject the Troika-proposals for the labour rights. Addressing our …
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October 24, 2012
Economy, Society
Samaras’ government is in dramatic negotiations with the Troika over the so-called “Labour Reforms” after two of the three coalition government partners rejected the Troika demands for a total overthrow of Labour Rights. A disagreement that threatens the cohesion among the government partners. According to latest information from state broadcaster NET TV, …
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September 27, 2012
Economy
After three hours of consultations, the three political leaders of Greece coalition government managed to reach a basic agreement on the 11-billion-euro cuts-package and the additional 3-billion-euro tax tsunami. Short after the meeting, Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras told the media, that the heads of the three coalition government parties had reached a “basic …
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September 27, 2012
Economy
Greek coalition government partners Antonis Samaras, Evangelos Venizelos and Fotis Kouvelis meet on Thursday morning to finalize the austerity package of 11.5+2 billion euro for the years 2013-2014. While the three leaders have agreed on main cuts there are some measures that meet the objection of Venizelos (PASOK) and Kouvelis (Democratic Left), …
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September 20, 2012
Economy
And when you think, you’ve seen everything, Greece’s Finance Ministry is always good for surprises – under the Troika pressure, of course… Finance Ministry reportedly surprised coalition governemtn partners Venizelos (PASOK ) and Kouvelis (Democratic Left) during their meeting with Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Thursday: A poll tax of minimum 150 euro. Imposed to whom? …
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August 29, 2012
Economy
Greece’s coalition government partners hold meeting after meeting while seeking consensus in a series of several expenditure cuts, as dictated by the Troika. Target is to present the country’s lenders with a thorough austerity package, worth 11. billion euro for the years 2013-2014. The meeting among PM Samaras, PASOK-leader Venizelos …
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August 8, 2012
Economy, Politics
Greece’s three-party coalition government faces a new test. The cohesion of Samara’s government is under strong pressure due to some measures essential to reach the volume of 11.5 billion euro spending cuts. Precisely the issue of “labour reserve” in the public sector threatens to bring Greek government into falling apart. Two junior government …
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August 1, 2012
Economy, Society
The three partners of the Greek coalition government partners finally agreed upon the 11-billion euro austerity package, even though Venizelos (PASOK) and Kouvelis( Democratic Left) had their reservations. “I disagree but I am forced to accept. We will not take the country to elections,” Venizleos said after the meeting with …
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