Communist Party of Greece

The center-right government on Friday approved in Parliament changes to the criteria for appointing the director of the National Intelligence Service (EYP) - a move aimed at ensuring that the official undertaking the role has adequate professional experience but which provoked angry protests by the opposition.

A government bill outlining a series of tax reductions is to be voted on in Greece's Parliament on Tuesday and is expected to secure approval with the votes of center-right New Democracy, leftist SYRIZA and the center-left Movement for Change (KINAL).

Parliament's ethics committee has recommended the lifting of former alternate health minister Pavlos Polakis' immunity from prosecution to pave the way for a judicial inquiry into accusations made by Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras that he recorded a private telephone conversation between the pair without his consent, as well as a charge of slander made by the head of the workers' uni

The government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis has received the constitutionally mandated confidence vote in Parliament with 158 yeas versus 142 nays.

The government's programme was approved by all 158 New Democracy MPs in the Parliament that was elected on 7 July.

Suddenly an unexpected sense of political civilisation appears to be prevailing, at least in Parliament.

After the polarised political climate of the political campaign, with its divisive cries, one saw a climate of fundamental consensus in the election of Parliament Speaker Konstantinos Tasoulas.

Parliament speaker Kostas Tasoulas addresses his colleagues after being elected to the post Thursday with a record-breaking 283 votes in the 300-seat House. A total of 298 MPs voted, with 15 from the KKE communist party voting "present." Tasoulas, an MP for Ioannina, was backed by New Democracy, main opposition SYRIZA, center-left Movement for Change, the far-right Greek Solution and MeRA25.

Veteran New Democracy MP (representing the district of Ioannina) Konstantinos Tasoulas has been elected Parliament Speaker with an unprecedented 283 votes in the 300-seat legislature.

Tasoulas was supported by five of the legislature's six parties (New Democracy, SYRIZA, Movement for Change, Elliniki Lysi, and MeRa 25).

Center-right New Democracy surged to a decisive victory in general elections on Sunday, paving the way for leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis to form a comfortable majority government this week. 

Public Issue's "political barometer," released on Thursday, predicts New Democracy winning by with a resounding 42.5 percent of the vote in Sunday's snap election, against incumbent SYRIZA's 27 percent.

Opposition New Democracy is seen winning Sunday's election by at least 8 percentage points over ruling SYRIZA and clinching a clear majority with between 155 and 159 seats in Greece's 300-seat house, according to a public opinion poll by Pulse for Skai TV, released on Thursday.