Located in southeastern Europe, Greece has thousands of islands, and is often called the cradle of western civilization. Its capital, Athens, retains the Parthenon temple and the 5th century B.C. Acropolis citadel. It is also known for its beaches, including the black sands of Santorini and the party resorts of Mykonos. The political landscape is complex and fluid, with a complicated system of political dynasties.
Distrust over the political system
The recent Greek election reflects a widespread disillusionment with the country’s political system. In this context, a new online platform aims to build trust among Greek citizens and their elected representatives. Similar to ParliamentWatch, this project, launched in Germany, has already spread to six other countries. Its premise is to provide an open platform for citizens to express their views about government actions and policy. The platform will also allow citizens to ask questions of government officials and will monitor their answers against a code of conduct.
Central government controls on media
At the heart of the press freedom crisis in Greece are the controls placed by the Greek government on the media. These controls have a long history in Greece, going back to the right-wing dictatorships of the 20th century. At the present time, the censorship of Greek media is similar to that in Hungary. At the same time, the country’s journalists are experiencing a number of challenges in reporting the migration crisis.
Political dynasties in Greece
In Greece, political dynasties have been prominent for many centuries. These dynasties typically begin at the local level and move up the political ladder. They often have strong personalities and consolidated support bases. They may also have diversified interests outside of politics and may be involved in the arts, business, and other areas. This article will discuss the main political dynasties in Greece. Let’s start with the Mitsotakis family. The Mitsotakis family has been in the political scene for nearly two centuries, with their patriarch and two sons serving as PM.
Athens’ geopolitical position in Europe
The emergence of competing geopolitical rivalries between Greece and Russia has strengthened Athens’ geopolitical position, but it has also increased the risks involved in pursuing this strategy. Greece’s newfound relationship with Turkey may serve Athens’ interests in the short run, but its recent overtures seem aimed at achieving detente with Egypt and Israel. While the ‘enemy of my enemy’ reflex has long animated Middle Eastern geopolitics, it has also heightened the risk of escalation. Tensions in the summer of 2020 have already risen sharply over competing naval exercises and gas drilling between Turkey and Greece.
Religions in Greece
The Greek Constitution protects freedom of religion. Article 13 states that all religious groups are free to practice their beliefs, subject to certain restrictions. The ministers of all recognized religions must meet the same standards of state supervision and accountability as the Greek Orthodox Church clergy. The Jewish community and Greek Orthodox Church have long held official religious legal entities status in Greece. In 2014, two evangelical Christian groups and the Ethiopian Coptic Apostolic Church gained this status automatically.