In Opposition Kyriakos Mitsotakis had Bouncing loudly against the Macedonia-agreement. As the new head of government, he’ll in Greece’s Foreign and European policy, but to ensure continuity, believe observers.
“Less taxes, more investments,” promised Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in the election campaign. At the latest, in August, the conservatives hope to deliver carrier and a new tax law to Parliament. His followers can look forward to tax cuts. The Ruling in Athens are once again in a generous mood – as in the past, before the debt crisis? “Not” determined to believe the conservative MEP George Kyrtsos. Nasty Surprises are the last thing you want from the Mitsotakis expect, he assured. The new Prime intention to reduce public expenditure, and only in a second step, opportunities for good deeds to explore, says Kyrtsos of the DW.
The portfolio of the Minister for Finance Christos Staikouras (file photo)takes over
Greece was released in August of 2018 from the bailout program of international lenders and still remains on a short leash. “Tighter Monitoring” is the concept. You mean: Even if no new loans are flowing, to be reviewed the state of finances every three months by the EU Commission. This is to ensure that the promised reforms take place. For details, discusses the head of the Euro rescue Fund ESM, Klaus Regling, the new Premier next week in Athens. According to Greek media, Mitsotakis is expected to report by the end of August in Berlin to talk with Chancellor Angela Merkel. “He is a step-by-step approach, deliver results, and only then the EU partners to fiscal space is to ask,” believes European politicians Kyrtsos. Rash decisions, like in Italy, will not give it with Mitsotakis. For a cautious approach, the fact that a quiet mind, such as Christos Staikouras is the new Minister of Finance, don’t speak last Kyrtsos says.
Hardly any new sounds to the Turkey
The new foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias (archive image)
Also, the new foreign Minister, Nikos Dendias gets to do much. The 60-year-old is regarded as “binding in the sound, but hard in the matter,” and not shy away from difficult decisions. As Minister of justice he was once an Initiator of the criminal proceedings against the neo-Nazi party “Golden dawn”. Now, the difficult relations with Turkey are on the agenda – at a time when Athens and Ankara to natural gas deposits in Cypriot waters are arguing. “The tensions between the two countries will continue,” says Thanos Dokos, head of the Athens Think-tank ELIAMEP, the DW. Even after the change of government, the Greeks would maintain its energy Alliance with Cyprus, Egypt and Israel in the Eastern Mediterranean sea and, if possible, even expand. With Jordan it would be an approximation.
The energy Alliance is Agreement between the political parties in Athens at any rate. It was one of the founders of the project by the former socialist Premier George Papandreou, his conservative successor Antonis Samaras and the left politician Alexis Tsipras have also made their contribution. Now Mitsotakis was her turn, thinks political scientist Dokos.
ELIAMEP-boss Thanos Dokos
That it comes to an open confrontation in the Aegean, he will not believe it. “Something else would, of course, would apply if the Turkey, the Greek Islands, Kastellorizo (three kilometers off the Turkish coast), in the visor,” he says. During the upcoming visit of Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Cyprus you will know maybe more. The exact date is not fixed yet. “The first trip abroad leads to a Greek Prime Minister traditionally to Cyprus”, there are Dokos of concern.
“Northern Macedonia” is probably not in question
A shake of the head, the criticism of the Greek Conservatives, on the Macedonia-agreement of the government of Tsipras, has resulted in many European capitals. With the renaming in the North of Macedonia Greece and its Northern neighbor had its long-standing name dispute and the way for the NATO-accession of the young Balkan state free. To dare the Opposition Mitsotakis is a balancing act, and rejected the agreement, however, with the note, it has no other choice remains, as to fulfil the international obligations of Greece, he should come to the government. Now what?
“For internal political reasons, Mitsotakis was forced to louder to occur,” believes ELIAMEP-boss Thanos Dokos. Now he’ll pay attention to respect the agreement, but is embarrassed that the neighbors to the North do this. A total of Dokos believes that the new Premier would contribute more to the EU: “Great changes are not expected, but I think that Greece is one of Mitsotakis of a more active role – especially in the current debate about a common security policy in Europe”.