UN meetings dominate agenda as OPEKEPE scandal and Tempe crash continue to haunt gov’t

Police stand defender arsenic Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan arrives adjacent the United Nations office during the 80th league of the United Nations General Assembly, successful New York, Sunday. [AP]

Two emblematic cases – the workplace fraud ungraded and the Tempe train clang – proceed to predominate Greece’s governmental agenda, placing unit connected the blimpish government.

Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister George Mylonakis is scheduled to supply explanations successful Parliament connected Monday afternoon. He is alleged to person known astir the surveillance of MPs progressive successful the workplace fraud ungraded respective months earlier the lawsuit was brought to court.

Meanwhile, a trial opens successful Crete connected Monday involving 105 defendants accused of receiving amerciable subsidies by declaring onshore that did not beryllium to them successful 2020 and 2021.

On Wednesday, a parliamentary investigative committee will statesman its work, proceeding testimony from the existent and erstwhile presidents of OPEKEPE, the enactment liable for distributing EU cultivation funds.

New transgression cases implicating parliamentarians successful amerciable cultivation subsidy schemes are expected to scope Parliament successful the coming weeks oregon months. European delegated prosecutors are reviewing which interventions by MPs constituted amerciable enactment alternatively than morganatic parliamentary duties.

Father connected hunger strike 

A ample gathering took spot connected Sunday evening successful Athens’ main Syntagma Square and successful Thessaloniki, successful solidarity with Pano Ruci, whose son Denis was among the 57 victims of the Tempe train crash. Ruci has been connected a hunger strike for a week, demanding the exhumation of his son’s assemblage to clarify the circumstances of his death.

Opposition parties PASOK and SYRIZA said it is the inalienable close of a genitor to question the truth astir the decease of their kid and called connected the judiciary to assistance the exhumation request.

Taxi drivers strike successful Attica

The union representing taxi drivers successful the Attica portion will stage a strike connected Monday, ending astatine 6 p.m. to let members to enactment successful an bonzer wide meeting.

Drivers person voiced strong concerns implicit developments successful the transportation sector, citing what they picture arsenic the “downgrade of the role” of the union (SATA) and the “uncontrolled introduction of ample backstage interests into the sector.” They are besides urging the authorities to withdraw a measurement that bars taxis from utilizing autobus lanes, arsenic well arsenic authorities they accidental favors multinational transportation companies such arsenic Uber.

Mitsotakis to conscionable Erdogan astatine UN

On Tuesday, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will conscionable Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan connected the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly successful New York. Expectations for the gathering are low, with the main purpose seen arsenic maintaining meaningful dialog betwixt the two sides.

Following Nicosia’s alteration of stance, it is unlikely Mitsotakis will rise the contented of the energy interconnection betwixt Greece and Cyprus. It besides appears highly doubtful that a day will beryllium acceptable for the adjacent Greece-Turkey High Level Cooperation Council meeting, primitively expected successful January but repeatedly postponed.

PM to code UN General Assembly

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis will enactment successful the 80th High-Level Week of the United Nations General Assembly. He is scheduled to present a speech connected Friday, emphasizing Greece’s relation arsenic a pillar of stability successful the planetary and determination geopolitical landscape.

On Wednesday, Mitsotakis will conscionable UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres astatine UN headquarters. He will besides be diaspora events and clasp meetings with investors and representatives from large companies successful the energy, defense, and pharmaceutical sectors, among others.

Erdogan to conscionable Trump successful Washington

On Thursday, US President Donald Trump will big a gathering with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan successful Washington. The two leaders will sermon imaginable arms income and work to resoluteness the impasse implicit the F-35 stealth combatant program.

Cyprus president to question renewed UN talks

On Saturday, Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides will conscionable with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish Cypriot person Ersin Tatar successful New York, successful an effort to restart talks connected resolving the island’s division.

Greece whitethorn prohibition sheep and goat movement

Greece could enforce a nationwide prohibition connected the question of goats and sheep by Thursday if exigency measures to incorporate sheep pox are not successful. The illness has already affected 1,148 flocks crossed 24 regions, causing losses exceeding €350 million.

While the illness poses nary hazard to humans, it has driven up prices for sheep and goat meat, a large interest for Greeks already struggling with the cost-of-living crisis. The outbreak has besides dealt a stroke to feta exports, arsenic the shortage of sheep and goat beverage threatens accumulation of the country’s signature cheese.