Second Cabinet of Alexis Tsipras

In the early hours of December 23 while most Greeks were sleeping, 193 lawmakers in a 300-seat house voted in favor of civil partnership agreements despite protests from right-wing factions and the all-powerful Greek Orthodox Church.

Leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras appears to be amping the pressure on opposition parties just a few days after the failed political leaders meeting held on Saturday to gain consensus on social security measures.

State Minister Alekos Flambouraris told state broadcaster ERT TV late on Monday that the government is meeting the needs of the Greek people that voted for it.

The newspaper Avgi, which supports SYRIZA government, reported today a few hours before the leaders’ meeting the intention of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to propose to the political leaders to form a commission for the social security chaired by Professor Savvas Robolis.

Potami leader Stavros Theodorakis, Pasok president Fofi Genimmata and Centrists Union leader Vasilis Leventis arrived first at Maximos Mansion for the scheduled leaders’ meeting set for Saturday at noon and chaired by the President of Hellenic Republic Prokopis Pavlopoulos following the invitation sent by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to the leaders of opposition parties.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras made telephone contact with Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos while on his trip to Israel. He called for a meeting of political leaders following the return of the president from an official visit to Rome.

The political leaders may meet on the weekend as Pavlopoulos is scheduled to arrive in Athens on Friday.

During yesterday’s debate on the omnibus bill, the opposition unleashed a fierce attack on the government of Alexis Tsipras.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras met European Parliament President Martin Schulz and discussed on European Parliament’s role in the process for reviewing the Greek program, as well as Greece’s positions on the refugee issue.

Following marathon discussions, the majority of articles and clauses of the omnibus bill of prior actions as part of Greece’s bailout deal with international creditors passed through. The bill will be presented to Greek Parliament’s plenary at 1 p.m. and will be voted late on Friday.

Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras presented his priorities for the Greek government during his speech at the meeting of the Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) central committee.