Politics of Greece

The Greek government plans to introduce a legislative provision aimed at blocking the Greek National Party (Ellines), a far-right party founded by former MP Ilias Kasidiaris, from participating in the upcoming elections. 

On Thursday, government spokesperson Ioannis Oikonomou announced that this provision would be added to the final bill to be voted on before Easter. 

The President of the Republic of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski, described as "scandalous" the request of Bulgaria to participate in the process of preparing the constitutional changes in the southwestern Balkan country.

The leader of Greece's opposition has promised to legalize same-sex marriage with full parental rights if he wins a general election next month, in a move that would make it the first predominantly Orthodox Christian country to do so.

Alexis Tsipras, who heads the main left-wing opposition party, Syriza, said his government would grant same-sex couples the legal right to marry.

BELGRADE - Serbian PM Ana Brnabic said on Friday economic and political relations between Serbia and North Macedonia were steadily improving, especially as a result of the Open Balkan initiative.

BUDAPEST - Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Goran Vesic said on Tuesday in Budapest Serbia and Hungary would invite Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Albania, Greece and Turkey to join the construction of a regional high-speed rail line that would first connect Budapest and Belgrade and then also Nis and Presevo, in the south of central Serbia.

"Major change for the country" is coming, main opposition leader Alexis Tsipras said on Tuesday, in his first reaction to the calling of the general election on May 21.

"This adventure is coming to an end. Just a few more weeks of patience," he said.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis should be held accountable for the alleged wiretapping of senior officials by the state intelligence service (EYP), leftist SYRIZA opposition chief Alexis Tsipras reiterated on Monday.

Another night of protests and clashes with the police in France over the pension reform. Police used tear gas against demonstrators in Paris who set garbage containers and a motorcycle on fire.

SYRIZA chief Alexis Tsipras is pondering the idea of taking the issue of safety from Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis' pre-election agenda and using it to respond to the public outcry stemming from the Tempe rail crash.

Police Lieutenant General Lazaros Mavropoulos has been appointed new chief of the Hellenic Police (ELAS) following a meeting of the National Council on National Security (KYSEA) on Saturday.

Τhe new appointment "aims to improve and implement more positively and effectively the modern operational plans of the Hellenic Police for the safety of citizens," KYSEA said in its announcement.