Greek government in crisis


Panos Kammenos’s initiatives during his recent trip to the United States and the turbulence he has caused in the political scene of Greece and inside the government coalition have also been the focus of the Council of Ministers.

According to IBNA’s exclusive information, Greece’s premier Alexis Tsipras said at the meeting he  had convened the Cabinet due to problems created by ministers Kammenos and Kotzias (Foreign Affairs minister), holding them equally responsible.

It should be made clear that the Foreign Minister does not belong to SYRIZA (party) but is politically involved as he represents the movement of ideas and action “Pratto” (in Greek “I act”), a movement that has penetrated into society and has been strengthened in recent years, with the mobilisation of its executives, the successful policy of the Foreign Minister, which has reversed the image of Greece from negative to positive, highlighting its geostrategic role and adding further value to it in the international scene.

It is also known that in parliament, “Pratto” is represented by three deputies, while others have joined the movement, bringing the number of MPs to five, making it a key group in the coalition number wise.

Apparently, the PM’s balanced distance from both the Defence minister who opposes the Prespa Agreement and the initiator and creator of it, the Greek FM seem to have caused the dissatisfaction of Nikos Kotzias (i.e. the latter). According to IBNA, the Foreign Minister appears determined to step down from the governmental train, while there is information he has already submitted his resignation, which will be announced on Thursday, if there are no dramatic developments.

If this is approved and goes through, then the government gets into a poor position, which means there will be serious developments that may lead to early elections.

A possible resignation of Nikos Kotzias will not only cause problems to the domestic political scene but will turn Zoran Zaev’s government upside down while it would also upset Greek-Turkish relations, the negotiations with Albania, the Cyprus issue, the Greek-American ties, and so on.

In Macedonia, a possible resignation of Nikos Kotzias will be used by main opposition VMRO-DPMNE to stop the process of amending the Constitution, since the party will be in a position to convince MPs that Greece has changed its attitude.

In Greek-Turkish relations, in the Cyprus issue, in Greek-Albanian relations, having Nikos Kotzias out of the picture is equal to returning to the past and all it entails.

Implementing a multidimensional and active foreign policy decided by the Prime Minister himself, Nikos Kotzias has achieved tremendous successes in Greek foreign policy, giving prominence to Greece as a pillar of stability and security for the wider region of the Eastern Mediterranean by solving chronic problems that Greece’s international relations had been beset by for decades.

Now everything is in the hands of Alexis Tsipras, who, as the Prime Minister of Greece and President of the Government has to cut the Gordian knot causing an imbroglio within the government while also complicating the relations of SYRIZA’s partners in governing the governing.

At a very critical moment for Greece, as the state takes its first steps away from the memoranda and resolves continuing issues, the loss of political capital seems catastrophic.
IBNA