Political parties

Police in Athens were on Thursday questioning a suspect in connection with threats issued against a politician who had publicly stated that they would back Greece's name accord with the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.

No details were released regarding the man's identity, though some local media suggested that he is 40 years old and belongs to the far-right.

The leftist government is exempt from any kind of inhibitions or guilt. If everything going on today - out in the open or behind the scenes - occurred during a New Democracy or PASOK government, there would have been a universal uproar - with the left at the forefront of course. 

Spyros Danellis, a former lawmaker of centrist To Potami, defended his decision to support the government in a no-confidence vote that will be held late on Wednesday, saying it does not mean he is joining ruling SYRIZA.

As the government appeared confident of clinching the 151 votes it needs to survive a confidence motion in Parliament late on Wednesday with support from its former coalition partner, the Independent Greeks (ANEL), and other MPs, the focus has already shifted to whether ruling SYRIZA will muster a majority to back the Prespes name deal.

There are currently 6,389 electors above the age of 100 in Turkey, according an analysis prepared by the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) regarding potential voters for the upcoming polls. The oldest one is the 165-year-old Ayşe Ekici from the Central Anatolian province of Kayseri.

Greece's conservative opposition maintains a strong lead over the ruling leftist party, according to a new opinion poll published Wednesday.

The survey by Opinion Poll showed that New Democracy would get 31.5 percent of the vote if elections were held now, versus 16.5 percent for Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras's SYRIZA party.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has held a special event to introduce Mansur Yavaş, its mayoral candidate for Ankara Metropolitan Municipality, and its plans for the capital.

Former conservative foreign minister Dora Bakoyannis suggested Wednesday that the government was offering incentives to non-SYRIZA lawmakers for their support in the vote of confidence.

The leader of the centrist Movement for Change (KINAL), Fofi Gennimata, on Tuesday described former defense minister Panos Kammenos's departure from the SYRIZA-led coalition as a premeditated farce, while renewing her call for early elections.

"For us you are a minority government. No, we do not have trust in you," Gennimata told lawmakers on the eve of a confidence vote.

Ahead of a no-confidence debate starting in Parliament on Tuesday, independent lawmaker Aristides Fokas announced he is joining the ranks of the Independent Greeks (ANEL).

"We will join the fight with ANEL from now on," he told journalists outside Parliament, standing next to party leader Panos Kammenos.

Fokas was previously an MP with the Union of Centrists.