Greek government formation, January

Independent Greeks (ANEL) leader Panos Kammenos on Monday ejected Tourism Minister Elena Kountoura from his group of MPs in a post on Twitter, declaring that she "exchanged her vote and the Macedonia name for a ministerial seat."

Prompting a cycle of fresh political upheaval, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has said he would call a confidence vote in his government this week after his junior coalition partner Panos Kammenos announced on Sunday that he was quitting the government due to his objections with Tsipras on the Prespes name deal.

After the hype of the last few days, that brought into question the prospects of the present government continuing in power, as well as the ratification of the Prespes agreement by Athens, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his coalition partner Panos Kammenos, have in essence agreed to a mutually convenient path which will not threaten either.

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras is facing a difficult balancing act as his coalition partner, Panos Kammenos, has shifted stance several times regarding his support for the leftist-led administration due to his opposition to the Prespes name deal. A meeting on Sunday morning between the men is expected to determine the future of the shaky coalition. 

Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his junior coalition partner Panos Kammenos will most likely meet on Monday afternoon to discuss the conditions for the dissolution of their partnership and their next steps following a phone conversation on Saturday, Kathimerini understands.

The television ratings of an interview with Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras on Open TV channel on Wednesday ranged from 12.4 percent to 16.2 percent, if we include the highest-performing segment. In any case, the percentage was low, not just for an interview with the prime minister but especially if we consider the current political climate.

Panos Kammenos, Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's right-wing coalition ally, on Friday appeared to have backed down from a threat to quit the government ahead of a vote on the Prespes deal.

Lawmakers with the junior party in Greece's coalition government, Independent Greeks (ANEL), on Friday rejected a request by their chief, Panos Kammenos, to seek the withdrawal from cabinet of party officials.

There is divine irony in the fact that the marriage of convenience between Alexis Tsipras and Panos Kammenos is collapsing in the presence of the very symbol that helped bring them together.

With the future of the coalition hanging in the balance over the Prespes name deal, Friday's meeting between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and his partner Panos Kammenos is expected to be pivotal.

Sources from junior coalition party, Independent Greek (ANEL), said Thursday that regardless of the outcome of the meeting, Kammenos will not resign on Friday but early next week.