Greece’s conservative government on Friday survived, as expected, a vote of no confidence put forward by the main opposition party SYRIZA opposition over a wiretapping scandal targeting politicians, army top brass and journalists. 156 ruling New Democracy lawmakers voted against the motion, while 143 opposition MPs voted in favor. A …
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Refuge claims girls’ death in Evros was set up; sparks confrontation ND-SYRIZA
A refugee has claimed that the 5-year-old girl’s death on an islet of the Evros river at the borders with Turkey “was set up.” Traffickers said to have suggested the allegedly fake story that became a media sensation last August. The girl had allegedly died after she was bitten by …
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First poll in 2023: Difference ND-SYRIZA below 7%
In the first public opinion poll for 2023, the difference between ruling conservative New Democracy and main opposition party, left-wing SYRIZA has fallen below 7 percent, as the price hikes keep bothering the Greek public. According to ALCO conducte don behalf of Alpha TV, the difference between ND and SYRIZA …
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ND MP resigns over misuse of state money to help his business
New Democracy MP for Fthiotida, Central Greece, Themis Himaras, resigned as a parliamentary deputy on Wednesday following reports he misused state money for the benefit of his business, in violation of the Constitution. Article 57 of the Constitution of Greece is clear about the business activities of a member of …
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Cost of living, Patsis scandal close ND-SYRIZA difference
The cost of living and the scandal with -now ex New Democracy- MP Andreas Patsis cast a shadow at the ruling conservative party which sees its rates in in public opinion polls in decline. Difference between ruling ND and main opposition left-wing SYRIZA dropped to 6.1% in a poll conducted …
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ND expels MP Patsis for buying “red” loans, ELTA CEO resignation followss
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Tuesday expelled Andreas Patsis, MP for Grevena. from ruling New Democracy’s (ND) parliamentary group. Reason for his expulsion is that as an MP has had a company -an offshore – that had bought “red loans from bank at 1/5 of their values. Further more, he …
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“No VAT reduction for the rich eat more pasta than the poor,” says ND MP
“We cannot reduce the Value Added Tax in pasta, because the rich eat more than the poor.” The statements by New Democracy MP Constantinos Kyranakis about the government’s refusal to reduce the VAT triggered an outrage and a lot of taunt on social media on Thursday. “The rich and the …
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Minister Petsas apologizes for cynical statement “Who doesn’t adapt dies!”
Deputy Interior Minister Stelios Petsas apologized on Wednesday, a day after he cynically threatened Greeks that whoever does not switch from natural gas to heating oil “dies!” A statement that triggered an outcry on social media and apparently also in the conservative government and obviously also discontent to prime Minister …
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Gov’t consideration to change again the electoral law meets sharp criticism
Greece’s conservative government of New Democracy is considering to change the electoral law ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections next year based on the polls-based assumptions that no party will be able to form a single party government. The change issue has been referred to on media by several government …
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MRB Poll: Difference between New Democracy and SYRIZA getting smaller
The difference between ruling conservative New Democracy and main opposition left-wing SYRIZA is getting smaller and closed to 7.2% from 8.2% about three weeks earlier, a poll has shown. According to a public opinion poll conducted by MRB June 22-30, 2022, in terms of voting intention, the ND party leads …
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Poll: Price hikes cause of concern, ND-SYRIZA difference drops to 10.5%, no technocrats gov’t
Difference between ruling conservative New Democracy and main opposition party left-wing SYRIZA has decreased to 10.5% in the preference of potential voters as the high energy cost and the price hikes are a reason of concern for 47% of the Greeks. At the same time, Greeks seem to turn down …
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Tsipras reiterates call on early elections over ND’s pandemic handling, price hikes
Leader of main opposition left-wing SYRIZA, Alexis Tsipras, reiterated his call on early elections on Monday arguing that the conservative New Democracy government has failed to handle the coronavirus pandemic and to the price hikes Speaking at a conference on digitalization on Monday, Tsipras said that public trust in the …
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Two ND MEPs abstain from EU Parliament vote on same-sex marriage
Two MEPs from ruling New Democracy abstained from a vote on a European Parliament resolution calling for cross-bloc recognition of same-sex marriage. The draft was approved by 387 MEPs, 161 voted against and 123 abstained. Anna-Michelle Asimakopoulou was included in the 123 abstentions while Manolis Kefalogiannis did not even participate …
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Gov’t to lift eligibility restrictions for Diaspora Greeks elections vote
The conservative Greek government plans to lift some crucial restrictions regarding the eligibility criteria allowing Diaspora Greeks to exercise their right to vote in parliamentary elections. The changes are planned despite the fact that New Democracy passed the relevant legislation a year ago. Government spokesperson Aristotelia Peloni said Monday noon …
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Poll: Seven in ten Greeks concerned about Covid-19, Turkey
Seven in ten Greeks are worried about the course of the pandemic in the country, while they express concern about the , Turkish aggression in the East Mediterranean at an even higher rate, a public opinion poll has found. According to the poll conducted by Pulse on behalf of Skai, …
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Mitsotakis expels MEP & ex PAOK midfelder Zagorakis over football
With order of the Prime Minister, New Democracy expelled form the party, MEP and former football player, Thodoris Zagorakis, over his statement challenging the decision of the Greek Professional Sports Committee (EEA) to have two football clubs removed from the Super League championship. On Monday, the EEA voted to demote …
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Charges against ex ND MP for sex with minors dropped due to “statute of limitations”
The criminal prosecution against former New Democracy lawmaker Nikos Georgiadis for repeatedly paying minors for sex has been dropped due to the statute of limitations, in accordance with the new penal code. The prosecutor at the three-member court of appeals in Athens argued that she was obliged to accept the …
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Greece’s Asylum bill: Drastic changes to facilitate “fast track” deportations
The new Asylum bill is heading to the Greek Parliament by the conservative New Democracy government despite objections by human rights organizations. The bill introduces a series of measures and drastic changes aiming to restrict access to asylum, reduce asylum procedure times or terminate stages of procedures and proceed with …
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ND lawmaker: “Water is unacceptable cheap”. Hikes under way?
Where there is smoke, there is fire. In this case: there is water. Precisely, possible hikes in the water price, if one takes seriously the statements by New Democracy MP at the Sub-Committee on Water Resources earlier on Thursday. ND MP Babis Papadimitriou said that the water is “unacceptably cheap” …
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Parliament committee to probe ex SYRIZA Minister over Novartis handling
New Democracy has decided to propose an ad hoc parliamentary committee to investigate the actions of former Alternate Justice Minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos (SYRIZA) in connection with the Novartis probe. The ex minister speaks of “political persecution.” The ruling party has also decided to avoid investigation into former Prime Minister, Alexis …
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