Euclid Tsakalotos

Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos on Tuesday sought to quell concerns over a possible spillover effect from Turkey's deepening economic crisis, saying problems in the neighboring country will not affect Greece's "clean exit" from its third bailout program on August 21.

The Finance Ministry is monitoring the reaction of capital markets to the estimates of the International Monetary Fund, as after last week's release of the Greek Debt Sustainability Analysis there was notable activity in the Greek bond market, with yields showing a strong rise and the benchmark 10-year bond climbing above 4 percent.

A legislative amendment submitted in Parliament on Wednesday stipulates the financial relief that will go towards victims of last week's catastrophic wildfires in Attica.

The government's objective of returning to capital markets is becoming increasingly distant, following the official decision by the president of the European Central Bank, Mario Draghi, to rule out Greece's entry into the ECB's quantitative easing (QE) program.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is said to be planning a "corrective" reshuffle, as soon as early September, in a bid to send markets a positive message as Greece exits its bailouts and enters a pre-election period.

According to sources, the changes will be mainly cosmetic, with three key cabinet members expected to keep their jobs.

The national union of public hospital workers (POEDIN) has blamed Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos for what they described as a vicious attack by riot police units against union members during a protest outside the Finance Ministry over ongoing austerity. 

Members of the national union of public hospital workers (POEDIN) on Monday staged a protest outside the Finance Ministry over ongoing austerity. 

After being refused a meeting with Finance Minister Euclid Tsakalotos, protesters tried to force their way into the building but were pushed back by police who fired tear gas. 

Berlin on Thursday blocked the disbursement of the last bailout installment to Greece, worth 15 billion euros, due to Athens extending the value-added tax discount on five Greek islands without securing the approval of its creditors first.

Berlin on Thursday blocked the disbursement of the last bailout installment to Greece, worth 15 billion euros, due to Athens extending the value-added tax discount on five Greek islands without securing the approval of its creditors first.

Public hospital workers are planning a fresh rally at the Finance Ministry in central Athens on Tuesday morning after protesters last week clashed with riot police.

"We will be there every day, more determined and more organized," their union, POEDIN, said in an announcement.