Greek government formation, January

Leftist SYRIZA completed a two-day session of it political secretariat on Wednesday with leader and former prime minister Alexis Tsipras seeking to draw a line under speculation about a possible challenge for leadership of the party.

SYRIZA leftists have given a clear indication in Parliament of the type of opposition politics they plan to engage in against Greece's newly elected conservative administration. And that hasn't come as much of a surprise.

The word most frequently used by Greeks to describe their new government is "weird." That is not meant pejoratively. Instead, it describes the unusual speed and specificity with which Kyriakos Mitsotakis has taken to the job of prime minister. What people mean is: "This is really weird for Greece."

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).

MeRA25 chief Yanis Varoufakis accused the former SYRIZA administration of imposing Greece's "harshest memorandum," saying that any members of the now-opposition party who take to the streets in protest at the new government would be "comical."

Senior officials from Greece's bailout creditor institutions were meeting in Athens with the country's new conservative government following general elections this month.

Former premier and SYRIZA leader Alexis Tsipras on Saturday called for the "transformation" of his party into a broader movement that would be home to "progressive and democratic" forces. 

Fitch Ratings is waiting for the tax bill the new government will submit on July 23 to make any decisions regarding Greece's credit rating and announce it on August 2, the international agency said in a report.

The easy bit is over for newly elected Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis - at least as regards beating SYRIZA and forming a majority New Democracy government. Up until a couple of months ago, these were not things that could be taken for granted, regardless of what some people now claim.

As the results poured in after the polls closed Sunday night, it quickly became evident that Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his center-right New Democracy party would have a comfortable majority in the new Parliament. Also, that while Alexis Tsipras and his SYRIZA movement had lost power they maintained a strong presence.