International

The domestic conflict is divisive, but the obvious intervention of international players in favour of the agreement is obvious. The rationale is simple. This is one less problem for the West and yet another impediment for Russia in the Balkans.

The spectre of the “Macedonian” issue, the outstanding and chronic issue of Greek foreign policy, again threatens to blow up political life and the stability of the country, the stability that is so necessary at this crucial economic juncture.

Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis has ordered an emergency preliminary investigation of Kostas Barbarousis, after the Golden Dawn MP called the military to arrest Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, President Prokopis Pavlopoulos, and Defence Minister Panos Kammenos

Venizelos also noted problems in the “synchronisations of procedures” regarding when the agreement takes effect and the accession of FYROM to Nato and the start of EU negotiations.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras charged that main opposition leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis is a mouthpiece for ex-prime minister Antonis Samaras, who has lambasted Tsipras over the recent agreement with FYROM.

The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) has approved a one billion euro loan tranche for the payment of public sector arrears.

As many votes as the agreement with FYROM may garner, and as many acrobatics as his partner does, Mr. Tsipras will have lost the necessary political legitimisation to continue to govern.

The issue has deeply divided the party, which has failed to reach consensus after four meetings on the matter.

Tsipras said that the agreement makes clear that ancient Macedonia is Greek and that no previous government was able to conclude an agreement with Skopje that recognises that.

Regling tabled three options. The first is a 15-year extension on the repayment of EFSF loans. The second is 25bn euros in cash plus a five-year extension on loan repayments. The third is 20bn euros in cash and a five-year loan repayment extension.

Both the government and the main opposition party essentially refuse to acknowledge that the agreement is a compromise between the two sides, and that in a compromise one inevitably has concessions and retreats.

Regling acknowledged that Athens has done much work on the fiscal front, and he said that Greece will be the fifth success of the eurozone.

Skopje will receive invitations to join Nato and start EU accession talks only after its parliament ratifies the agreement, and it can join these organisations only after it amends its constitution.

' A composite name for all uses, a constitutional revision [in FYROM], and the annulment of every form of irredentism are our steadfast, patriotic positions,' the centre-left party said in a statement.

Mitsotakis described the agreement as 'deeply problematical' because it is against the will of the overwhelming majority of the Greek people, as it cedes [to Skopje] the Macedonian language and Macedonian ethnicity.

The wager for Mr. Zaev, and our country, is to manage to persuade his compatriots that ratification of the agreement constitutes the only way out, so that a chronic dispute that is in nobody’s interest can end.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras in a nationally televised address this evening announced an historic agreement with FYROM PM Zoran Zaev on the naming issue and issues of identity and language,

Kostas Karapapas has unleashed withering charges against Thanasis Karteros (PM Alexis Tsipras’ communications advisor) and against publisher Kostas Vaxevanis. Karapapas, the director of communications for PAE Olympiacos, in a social media post, took a stand on the continuing attack against Vangelis Marinakis over the last days, from government friendly media and journalists. Kostas Karapapas’ post […]

Defence Minister Panos Kammenos said today that his party will not vote for a prospective settlement that includes the name Macedonia.

The data for the 10,216 zones around the country show that the so-called “objective tax value” per square metre has gone up in 3,792 zones, has remained the same in 4,302 zones, and has been reduced in 2,122 zones.