Dimitris Koutsoumbas

By George Gilson

A massive number of mourners gathered outside of Athens Cathedral today to bid farewell to the beloved composer Mikis Theodorakis, who died at age 96 and left a deep imprint on the Greek soul and national consciousness, at the funeral.

The remains of Mikis Theodorakis will be lie in state during a three-day popular pilgrimage in the Cathedral of Athens, from next Tuesday until Thursday.

According to information at the popular pilgrimage, all the necessary health safety measures will be observed.

So far, however, the place where the leading Greek composer will be buried has not been announced.

The great composer conveyed his wish via a letter to the leader of the Greek Communist Party (KKE) Dimitris Koutsoumbas

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is the most popular political leader in Greece (46 pct), despite a slight decline in his popularity, while the majority (57 pct) of people want the government to complete its term, according to a nationwide poll conducted by Prorata and published on Wednesday.

All opposition parties in Parliament denounced the government on Friday in the wake of the European Council and its conclusions regarding Turkey.

President Katerina Sakellaropoulou on Wednesday affirmed that all Greeks are united in their determination "to protect our territorial integrity and our country's sovereign rights," however stressing that the nation remains committed to respect for international law and the wish for peaceful coexistence between all the people in the region.

This photo provided by the Communist Party (KKE)-affiliated PAME union shows protesters practicing social distancing during a May Day rally outside Parliament, Friday.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Parliament Speaker Konstantinos Tasoulas, SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras, Movement for Change leader Fofi Gennimata and Communist Party leader Dimitris Koutsoumbas (l to r) on Wednesday attended a brief ceremony to mark Greece's Independence Day at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside Parliament.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and main opposition leader Alexis Tsipras will lock horns on Friday morning in a debate in Parliament on, among others, changes to labor issues.

The debate is expected to start at 10 a.m.

The debate was held after Tsipras and Communist Party Secretary General Dimitris Koutsoumbas tabled two relevant questions. 

The head of the MeRA 25 party and former finance minister Yannis Varoufakis has sent a letter to the leaders of Greece's left and center-left opposition calling for alternative proposals to the center-right government's plan for clearing non-performing loans.