Athens A

Vassilis Nedos, Kathimerini's diplomatic and defense editor, joins Thanos Davelis with the latest analysis from Athens as we discuss the Biden administration's Friday decision to formally inform Congress of its intention to proceed with a deal to sell F-35 stealth fighter jets to Greece, while looking at what this means for Greece and US-Greek relations.

SYRIZA has endorsed Costas Zachariadis as its candidate for Athens mayor in the upcoming local government elections on October 8, the party's Political Secretariat said on Thursday.

The decision was between Zachariadis and Nikos Filis, the former minister of education, after the secretariat decided not to back former basketball player Nikos Pappas.

Greece's new Parliament was sworn in on Monday, following the general elections held on June 25. The ceremony took place in the presence of Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

Following the religious oath, Muslim members of Parliament swore on the Quran, while those who preferred to do so, took the political oath.

The members of Parliament elected in the general elections on June 25 will be sworn in on Monday, in a celebratory opening session commencing at 11 a.m. in the presence of Greek President Katerina Sakellaropoulou.

New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis (C) greets supporters after the announcement of the first results in the general elections, at the party's HQ in Athens, 25 June 2023. Photo EPA-EFE/ALEXANDROS VLACHOS

"We have a strong mandate and a parliamentary majority and our government will be a government of hard work and practical results," Mitsotakis said.

The parliamentary deputies elected in the May 21 general elections will be sworn in at 6 p.m. on Sunday, in the presence of the President of the Hellenic Republic Katerina Sakellaropoulou and caretaker prime minister, Ioannis Sarmas.

Jailed former Golden Dawn deputy leader, Ilias Kasidiaris, announced on Thursday he would will attempt to run as an independent candidate in the second Greek general elections that will likely take place on June 25.

PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis on Monday received the leader of the Socialist Party of Germany Lars Klingbeil at his office in parliament.

The first direct flight from the US for the 2023 season will be by Delta Airlines and will arrive at Athens International Airport on March 11, Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias told state broadcaster ERT on Saturday.

Kikilias explained that Delta stopped its direct flights to Athens as late as last week, signaling the extension of the tourism season into winter.

"With hard work and in a very difficult year with war in the heart of Europe, energy crisis and inflation, Athens made a dynamic comeback in tourism," emphasized the Minister of Tourism Vassilis Kikilias, stating that the income from tourism will be above the 18.2 billion garnered in 2019.