Rift between Greek PM and his predecessor intensifies

The rift between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and former New Democracy leader and prime minister Antonis Samaras, who served from 2012 to 2015, deepened on Wednesday.

Tension escalated after sources close to Samaras responded to what was perceived as veiled criticism by Mitsotakis during a heated parliamentary debate, during which the prime minister said that he does not recognize Nikos Pappas, the interim chief of opposition SYRIZA, as a legitimate political opponent. 

"Some people wondered why I did not stay for the speech of the leader of the SYRIZA party. I want to be absolutely clear: I do not recognize as the leader of the opposition a politician convicted of misconduct by a vote of 13 to zero in a special tribunal," Mitsotakis said. 

"I will neither engage in discussions with him nor get cozy with him," he added.

This last remark was...