Former ND premier now outside the tent [InTime News] | Constantine CapsaskisNewsletter Editor |
Welcome to the weekly round-up of news by Kathimerini English Edition. Former New Democracy prime minister Antonis Samaras was expelled from the ruling party on Saturday, ahead of an explosive interview published on Sunday. Samaras had not shied away from openly criticizing the government on several issues in recent months, from its legislation legalizing same-sex marriage to current diplomatic efforts for a rapprochement with Turkey. The former prime minister and his supporters, seen to represent the more traditionalist and conservative voters of New Democracy, often attacked the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis for leaning too centrist. “The constant appeasement of Turkish challenges is not a centrist policy”, said Samaras in the interview, in which he essentially called for the sacking of Foreign Minister Georgios Gerapetritis for his stance during recent bilateral talks. “In his last interview, however, Mr. Samaras, did not express any opinions. He expressed his complete disagreement with the entire government policy,” said government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis in response to the interview, announcing the ouster of Samaras from the party. Marinakis accused Samaras of adopting a “blatant and provocative manner”, and sharing “extreme lies, distorting statements of the Minister of Foreign Affairs which have been clarified repeatedly and in detail”. Additionally, the spokesperson criticized Samaras for wading into the debate on who should succeed President Katerina Sakellaropoulou, after the former premier used the interview to nominate fellow former New Democracy Prime Minister Kostas Karamanlis, calling it “an insult […] levelled at the institution of the head of state”. “All of the above cannot be tolerated or accepted […] With this interview, Samaras places himself, for the second time after 1993, outside of New Democracy”, Marinakis concluded. “Arrogance and an unprecedented lack of composure can explain the decision by Mitsotakis”, said Samaras following his expulsion and accused the prime minister of being “cut off from the party base” and of “leading a party that little resembles New Democracy”. Spotlight - Defense Minister Nikos Dendias announced his proposal for a radical overhaul of the Hellenic Armed Forces this week, with a new “Force Structure” plan introduced before the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defense. The new plan foresees a radical shake-up of the country’s military doctrine, with a shift from large formations to smaller, highly equipped, and flexible units. The plan will also include cuts to non-essential military units, and a reduction of the overall number of bases, with Dendias confirming the closure of 137 bases. Resources will be redirected to improving the country’s anti-drone capabilities as well as its air-defense systems. To this end, it was also revealed this week that Greece is in talks with Israel to develop its own version of the Iron Dome missile defense system, at an approximate cost of 2 billion euros.
- The National Intelligence Service (EYP) announced its decision to declassify and release to the public several pieces of archival material on Cyprus compiled by Greek intelligence officers during the critical summer of 1974 that saw the coup against Cypriot President Makarios III and the subsequent Turkish invasion. Marking the 50th anniversary of Turkey’s occupation of Cypriot territory, EYP director-general Themistoklis Demiris noted that the intervening time “even if it doesn’t force you to, allows you to look back in an exercise of national but also of professional self-awareness”. Demiris stated that other documents may soon follow. Overall, the value of the 58 redacted reports released by EYP, which has been under fire in recent years for its involvement in the wiretapping scandal, has differed greatly within Greece’s academic community.
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OPINION | Tom EllisEditor-in-Chief, Kathimerini English Edition |
The Athens Polytechnic uprising, a milestone of peaceful resistance not to be forgotten [InTime News]This year Greece celebrates half a century of a well-functioning democracy following the collapse of the junta in July 1974. The invasion of Cyprus and the tragic division of the island were the last and most painful chapter of that dark period in the nation’s modern history. It was preceded by the Athens Polytechnic uprising, a milestone of peaceful democratic resistance to the junta, that is celebrated every year on November 17, the date in 1973 when the military violently entered with tanks the university campus and brutally clashed with the students who were revolting against the authoritarian regime’s oppression, torture and the traumatic absence of civil liberties and neglect for human dignity. A year later, in 1974, on the same date, Greece held its first national elections after the fall of the junta that had been in power since 1967. As we honor the ones who paid a price for the restoration of democracy, while at the same time celebrating these last fifty years of political freedoms and economic growth, we should not let go of the sentiments and lessons of what the country went through during the seven-year dictatorship. As Greece has steadily developed since then – politically, economically and socially – we need to cherish the accomplishments of the last half a century, despite the many shortcomings that have led to last decade’s deep economic crisis. Obviously, we should be critical of the numerous deficiencies – from clientelism to the widening inequalities, among others – but at the same time, we should not forget that not very long ago the liberties we enjoy and take for granted today were not self-evident. Every year the 17th of November and the Athens Polytechnic uprising, should not only be preserved as a day of symbolism, remembrance and appreciation, but also act as a critical lesson in a consistent and continuous effort to strengthen today’s modern Greek democracy. |
| CHART OF THE WEEK | |  More than 200,000 businesses have gone out of business over the last ten years, with the rate of closures rising again in recent years. This was because between 2020 and 2021, businesses that received emergency relief funds during the pandemic had strict rules stating that they could not permanently cease operations. Overall, while more than half the shuttered businesses were one-person companies, there was also a significant number of private capital companies (18,881), limited liability companies (10,408), and limited companies (8,393), with the latter often employing a significant number of employees. Over one in four businesses that closed in this period were active in sales (emporiki?), of which more than half were in retail. The hospitality sector recorded 35,500 closures over the last ten years, while 12,292 manufacturing businesses were also shut down. |
| | |  | ESCAPADE | | Lesvos: A birdwatcher’s paradise full of rare species Standing at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Lesvos is a haven for rare bird species, drawing birdwatchers from around the globe. Go to article > |
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| ECONOMY IN A NUTSHELL | | | “The Athens Exchange (ATHEX) general index closed at 1,403.87 points, down 0.66% from last week.” | | | “Greek bond yields fell ahead of the release of credit rating agency Fitch’s review on November 22. Specifically, the 10-year-bond yield dropped to 3.15% from 3.27%. Fitch currently rates Greece at BBB- with stable outlook.” | | | “Q3 saw a 4.4% year-on-year increase in the value of retail sales, with sales for all businesses totalling 128.24 billion euros compared to 122.80 billion in 2023. However, this is not a satisfactory number for retailers as, given inflation, it means that the volume of trade sales was down.” |
| WHAT'S ON THE AGENDA | | - 18/11/2024EU meetings: Several European Union ministerial meetings are set for next week, including the Foreign Affairs Council and the General Council.
- 20/11/2024Strikes: Greece’s major labor unions have called for a general strike on Wednesday, with public transport coming to a complete stop. Journalists will go on strike a day earlier, while pensioners are planning a demonstration on Saturday.
- 21/11/2024Armed Forces Day: The Hellenic Armed Forces will celebrate on Thursday with a series of events.
- 24/11/2024SYRIZA elections: The first round of the SYRIZA leadership elections will be held on Sunday. Firebrand MP Pavlos Polakis is polling as the favorite ahead of the vote.
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Editor's Pick What we basically witnessed – and not for the first time – was amateur hour at SYRIZA; it’s something we have become accustomed to from the party’s ousted leader.Paschos MandravelisRead the article |
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