MacroPolis

A report by the Bennett Institute for Public Policy at the University of Cambridge tracking satisfaction with democracy globally has charted how the feelings of Greeks have fluctuated over past decades and underlines how dissatisfaction grew during the crisis.

MPs are due to begin debating on Wednesday the government’s proposed change to the electoral law, which is highly unlikely to gain the necessary level of support to avoid Greece’s next general election being held under the proportional representation system.

Fresh from his trip to Washington, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis met with opposition leaders on Friday and was reminded that he would not have an easy ride from his political rivals over plans for closer defence cooperation with the US and his bid to change the electoral law.

The year ends with the government considering how it will use any available fiscal space in 2020 to reduce taxes further.

A rare moment of consensus has led to Greek Parliament allowing Greeks living abroad to vote in national elections from their country of residence as a new wide-ranging opinion poll indicates New Democracy is still dominating its rivals.

There has been persistent speculation in Greece over the last few weeks about possible snap elections next year, although the government has denied this is a possibility.

Although MPs have started to debate the 2020 draft budget, which encapsulates the government’s economic policy going forward, the focus of Greek politics is currently on an apparent rare moment of compromise between the parties over allowing Greeks living abroad to vote in the national elections from their country of residence.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has highlighted his willingness to compromise with the opposition parties over voting rights for diaspora Greeks in a bid to advertise his moderate style as well as to settle the longstanding electoral loose end.

By: Georgia Nakou

The Greek neo-Nazi party Golden Dawn burst onto the parliamentary scene overnight in 2012, to the alarm of democratic forces across Europe. Seven years later, the party finds itself out of the national and the European Parliament after losing more than half its voters.

Kyriakos Mitsotakis set about appointing the team to carry out his mandate to transform Greece after New Democracy’s landslide election victory on Sunday.