Skourletis

The deepening concern within SYRIZA and the government about how to manage the impact of a potential deal with Greece's lenders became evident on Monday when Interior Minister Panos Skourletis suggested the coalition should seek the support of an enhanced parliamentary majority for any agreement.

A senior minister in Greece's left-wing government says austerity measures being demanded by bailout lenders may require approval from opposition lawmakers to take effect.

Interior Minister Panos Skourletis said Monday in a radio interview that it was a "democratic imperative" for the measures to receive backing beyond the support of government lawmakers.

The government is seeking a new line of defense against pressure from the country's creditors for a written commitment regarding the sale of 40 percent of Public Power Corporation's lignite and hydroelectric plants.

Two days after the government submitted to Parliament a draft presidential decree expected to pave the way for the construction of Greece's first state-run crematorium, Interior Minister Panos Skourletis on Friday heralded a bill that would allow the creation of private crematoriums.

With bailout negotiations at a standstill, Interior Minister Panos Skourletis has dismissed speculation that early elections or a referendum are on the cards.

The government, he said on Friday, is fully focused on concluding the second review of the country's third bailout and insisted that Greece is within the targets set.

Greece's entire electricity market is seeking an alternative plan to avoid a short circuit that would bust it, due to the risks created by the plan of former energy minister Panos Skourletis for the opening up of the market.

A ministerial decision to let off debtors to the Public Power Corporation with unpaid electricity bills of up to 1,000 euros is costing the Greek power giant close to half a billion euros.

Interior Minister Panos Skourletis has signed off on financial aid for regions hardest hit by the recent rainstorms and floods.

The aim is to repair infrastructure damage in the regions of Skydra in the north, Preveza in the northwest, the island of Cephalonia, and Tyrnavos in central Greece.

The funding will be released gradually depending on the progress of each project.

The police and fire department's air services are to merge into one body following an amendment tabled by Interior Minister Panos Skourletis and Alternate Minister for Citizens' Protection Nikos Toskas.

The amendment was part of legislation drafted by the Justice Ministry in order to provide economies of scale and lead to broader and more flexible operational capabilities.

Relations between the Environment Ministry and Eldorado Gold have changed completely after the departure of former minister Panos Skourletis, as the signing of a decision by new minister Giorgos Stathakis illustrated this week.

The ministerial decision approves the technical study by the company's subsidiary Hellas Gold on the ore dressing plant at Skouries in Halkidiki.