Fofi Gennimata

Evangelos Venizelos, a former leader of the socialist PASOK party, and foreign minister, has quit the Movement for Change (KINAL), the socialist alliance that got third place in last week's European Parliament election.

Fofi Gennimata, leader of the centrist alliance Movement for Change (KINAL), did not rule out cooperating with SYRIZA or New Democracy after elections later this year.

With Greece gearing up for ballots next month, ruling SYRIZA is trying to expand its electoral catchment by rebranding its image as a "progressive" political force.

Europe's progressive forces have a responsibility to prevent the election of German politician Manfred Weber, the lead candidate of the European People's Party (EPP) for the position of president of the European Commission, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told a meeting of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in Brussels on Thursday. 

Former socialist prime minister George Papandreou has brushed off speculation that he intends to join a SYRIZA-led alliance ahead of elections later this year.

In a statement Tuesday, Papandreou dismissed the speculation saying it was part of "political machinations…  aimed at serving self-interested objectives."

Amid speculation about his possible move to centrist Potami following his ejection from the Movement for Change (KINAL) coalition, Thanassis Theoharopoulos held his cards close to his chest on Monday, commenting that he has a "good relationship" with Potami and its leader Stavros Theodorakis.

Amid accusations that ruling SYRIZA is trying to appropriate the legacy of the once powerful PASOK party, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and other government members visited the home of Antonis Livanis, a veteran of the Socialist party, on the occasion of his name day on Thursday.

The leader of the centrist Movement for Change (KINAL), Fofi Gennimata, on Tuesday described former defense minister Panos Kammenos's departure from the SYRIZA-led coalition as a premeditated farce, while renewing her call for early elections.

"For us you are a minority government. No, we do not have trust in you," Gennimata told lawmakers on the eve of a confidence vote.

Movement for Change leader Fofi Gennimata on Wednesday warned that an ongoing debate over the separation of church and state could jeopardize unity within the clergy, accusing ruling SYRIZA and opposition New Democracy of putting "petty party interests" first.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras insisted on Sunday that the tax breaks he promised on Saturday during his keynote address at the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF) are "absolutely feasible."