Until yesterday, events on the political landscape after the summer break were more or less taken for granted – unless there was an extremely large event from an external factor. However, after the case took a turn with telephone surveillance, everything changes. “And nothing can be taken for granted,” commented authoritative political observers.

Social agenda

Moreover, it was decided that the Prime Minister, from the point of view of TIF, put forward the social agenda of the government at the forefront. For example, Labor Minister Kostis Hatzidakis is taking with him on a short vacation starting on Monday a number of tasks that were planned for the first cabinet after August 15: from mini-insurance to a plan to eliminate additional pensions and from a new minimum wage to a pension increase in 2023 .

close partner

A close associate of the prime minister for many years and one of the most capable members of the party is Giannis Bratakos, who took over as deputy. Prime Minister in place of the resigned Grigoris Dimitriadis. In 2018, he assumed the duties of the secretary of production bodies, and after accepting leadership from N.D. appointed Director General of the party Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Following the loss of Konstantinos Michalos, he took over as President of EBEA, from which he resigned yesterday to take up his new responsibilities.

Bach, Papatanasiou and Prague

Classical piano, Johann Sebastian Bach and the internationally recognized artistic greatness of the recently deceased Vangelis Papathanasiou were on the menu of a meal – after husband and wife – hosted by Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias in honor of his Czech colleague Jan Lipavsky overlooking the Acropolis. Of course, for Athens, the meeting also has a diplomatic side as Prague holds the EU Council Presidency for the second half of 2022. However, the fact that Mr. Lipavsky’s wife is a pianist led the conversation in a different direction.

Juncker’s complaint

It’s a bit dated, but as a complaint that keeps coming up, it has its merits. This is the complaint of the Commission’s former president, Jean-Claude Juncker, since his arrival in Athens last May, when the Athens Academy, in a special session, welcomed him as an honorary member. The event was preceded by a dinner hosted in honor of Mr Juncker by Governor of the Bank of Greece Yannis Sturnaras. Mr. Juncker does not forget this, just as he does not forget about the absence of the President of SYRIZA, Alexis Tsipras. The former head of the Commission has since expressed surprise at the absence to several interlocutors, as he believes that in 2015, when Mr Tsipras faced war everywhere, he himself supported him as much as anyone else.