Mitsotakis promises new spending without election handouts
Get European news in your inbox daily
A short daily digest of the whole continent — or just the countries you care about.
Check your email. We've sent a confirmation link — click it to complete your subscription.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis returned from the EU summit with approval for his migration proposal but a deadlock on the bloc's budget. He immediately turned to domestic matters, floating potential increases for pensions and salaries alongside interventions in ferry services. He has characterized the plans as using fiscal reserves rather than the kind of populist handouts that usually precede a Greek election.
The domestic political mood remains combative. Alexis Tsipras has challenged PASOK over whether they intend to govern with the ruling New Democracy, while the opposition party has also entered a public row with the Hellenic Police. These maneuvers coincide with more somber news from Patras, where two women were found dead in separate incidents at apartment buildings, and a new wave of student allegations against a gym teacher in Voula.
A deputy minister has been referred for investigation over the Tempi train crash, though families of the 57 victims noted that a referral is not a conviction. Meanwhile, the maritime ministry announced that Greek and Japanese interests now control 32% of the global commercial fleet. In a country that has long looked to the sea for its wealth, the shipping industry remains a rare point of stability.