Kyriakos Mitsotakis

In last year's New Year's edition of To Vima we described 2019 as a year of change. The title and content of that editorial were fully confirmed. Indeed 2019 was a year of political change as most independent analysts predicted because they discerned the trends and attitudes in Greek society.

The income of all taxpayers (salaried workers, pensioners, farmers and self-employed professionals) is due for a boost as of January 1, when reduced tax rates come into effect.

Greece's Prime Minister said in remarks published on Dec. 29 that if Athens and Ankara cannot solve their dispute about maritime zones in the Mediterranean they should turn to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague to settle the disagreement.

Notwithstanding a short break for the holidays, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his aides are busy planning for his visit to Washington next month where he is scheduled to meet with US President Donald Trump on January 7 and to explore business prospects, Kathimerini understands. 

"I am 110% Greek," Tom Hanks said some time ago and now it is official

Upon the initiative of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who had met him in the past, Hanks and his family will receive honorary citizenship and the decision was signed today by President Prokopis Pavlopoulos.

It is considered a particular and rare honour in most countries.

Alternate Foreign Minister Miltiadis Varvitsiotis warned on Thursday that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is" playing with fire" and will be further isolated.

The Greek official sent a message to Turkey through Skai radio that Greece remains vigilant in the face of Turkish restlessness.

On a symbolic trip to the island of Kasos, which Turkish Air Force jets have repeatedly flown over of late as it gets in the way of Ankara's EEZ designs, Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis indicated that he wants a dialogue with Turkey but not under threat.

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reiterated on Wednesday that Greece will defend its sovereignty in the Aegean while seeking resolution of its problems with Turkey.

A period of intense diplomatic activity is expected in the coming weeks for Athens, which will include France's deeper involvement in the Eastern Mediterranean region, with Paris' participation in the trilateral 3+1 meeting of foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus and Egypt in Cairo at the beginning of the new year, probably on January 4.

Draft legislation discussed during a cabinet meeting on Monday foresees measures to ensure that street protests do not create undue upheaval for city dwellers.