Persian Realm

Are Greek police 'colluding' with far-right?

Greece's far-right party, Golden Dawn, won 18 parliamentary seats in the June election with a campaign openly hostile to illegal immigrants - and there are now allegations that some Greek police are supporting the party.

Last week Golden Dawn MP Ilias Panagiotaros led a demonstration that closed down a performance of the Terence McNally play, Corpus Christi.

As police stood by, apparently oblivious, Mr Panagiotaros was filmed shouting racist and homophobic insults at the director of the play, and the actors cowering inside the Chyterio Theatre.

Newsnight's Paul Mason reports from Athens.

Greece far-right party Golden Dawn: 'We are in civil war'

Greece's far-right party, Golden Dawn, won 18 parliamentary seats in the June election with a campaign openly hostile to illegal immigrants.

Greece State Tv censors Downton Abbey 'gay' kiss

Viewers complain after Greek state television edits out a gay kiss from British drama Downton Abbey.

In pictures: Anti-Merkel protest

In pictures: Anti-Merkel protest (bbc)

Tight Athens security for Merkel

Tight Athens security for Merkel (bbc)

There is heavy security in the Greek capital, Athens, as German Chancellor Angela Merkel makes her first visit since the eurozone crisis erupted.

German chancellor risks trip to Greece, Gavin Hewitt writes

German chancellor risks trip to Greece, Gavin Hewitt writes

Meeting between Greek villagers and Roma descends into violence

Meeting between Greek villagers and Roma descends into violence (France 24)

A meeting held to discuss problems allegedly linked to the Roma population in the small Greek village of Anthili turned into an all-out brawl on Wednesday. The mayhem was captured on video by our Observer. 

Dilemma for Greek youth: Fight or flee

Dilemma for Greek youth: Fight or flee (cnn)

• Maria Papanagiotaki and Aristotle Skalizos are in love, but they disagree over whether to stay in Greece or leave
• The couple belong to a generation devastated by the country's economic crisis
• Others who have left Greece come back to contribute to the recovery of their homeland
• The country's young face such dilemmas even as politicians try and renegotiate the bailout package

Greece 'taking active measures' towards stability

Greece 'taking active measures' (bbc)

Greece's Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras, tells Eurogroup finance chief Jean-Claude Juncker that the country is moving "towards stability"

Greece to deport 1,600 immigrants

Greece to deport 1,600 immigrants (bbc)

Greek police plan to deport 1,600 illegal immigrants rounded up in Athens, as a minister defends the crackdown.

Greece

It's an unimportant country since cold war is gone. All the media  hype uis for  nothing. Greece staying in Euro or not will not have much impact on financial markets.

Fareed Zakaria GPS : Ferguson: If euros became drachmas

Greece election: pro-bailout party to attempt coalition

Greeks seek pro-bailout coalition (bbc)

The leader of Greece's pro-bailout New Democracy party, set to win most seats in a general election, says he wants to form a government quickly.

Campaigning ends before Greek poll

Campaigning ends before Greek poll (bbc)

Campaigning in Greece ends ahead of a crucial election on Sunday which could ultimately decide its future in the eurozone.

Greek patients struggle to find drugs as credit dries up

Life lines (bbc)

Greek patients struggle to find drugs as credit dries up

Moment of Truth: Europe on edge ahead of crucial Greek election

Moment of truth (bbc)

Europe on edge ahead of crucial Greek election

Europe is on edge, its leaders nervous and divided. The days ahead are full of uncertainty.

On Sunday the Greeks vote in an election that could determine whether Greece stays in the euro. Friday is the last day of campaigning

Greeks march against far-right

Greeks march against far-right (bbc)

Thousands have protested in Greece against the far-right Golden Dawn party after one of its members assaulted a woman on live TV.

Demonstrators shouted "Neo-Nazis out" in rallies called by left-wing and anti-racism groups in Athens.

Greek Far right TV assault on Two Female Left Wing deputies

The spokesman for Greece's extremist far-right Golden Dawn party physically assaulted two left-wing deputies on live television during a morning political show.

A public prosecutor ordered his immediate arrest following the incident on Thursday.

Golden Dawn spokesman Ilias Kasidiaris had taken offence at a reference by radical left Syriza party member Rena Dorou to a court case that is pending against him.

He hurled a glass of water across the table over Dorou when she said there was a "crisis of democracy when people who will take the country back 500 years have got into the Greek parliament."

Greek dilemma: Facing "payback time" at the ballot box

Greek dilemma (bbc)

Facing "payback time" at the ballot box.

Paul Krugman: Greece will leave the euro

Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman says Greece will have to leave the euro.

Speaking to BBC HARDtalk's Sarah Montague he says there was no alternative but whoever makes the decision for Greece to go would simultaneously be ending their own political career.

Lagarde tax jibe angers Greeks

Lagarde tax jibe angers Greeks (bbc)

Political parties in Greece have criticised IMF head Christine Lagarde for suggesting that Greeks were avoiding paying taxes.

Socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos accused Ms Lagarde of "insulting the Greek people".

Left-wing leader Alexis Tsipras insisted: "Greek workers pay their taxes, which are unbearable."

In her interview with the UK's Guardian newspaper, Ms Lagarde suggested it was payback time for Greece.

She said she was more concerned about poverty-stricken children in sub-Saharan Africa than Greeks hit by the economic crisis.

Greece has promised to implement tough austerity measures in return for a multi-billion euro EU-IMF bailout. But the deal is under threat following inconclusive elections in May.

Greece prepares for new polls

Greece prepares for new polls (BBC, VIDEO)

In just over three weeks time Greeks will head to the polls again for another shot at electing a government after the last ballot failed to produce a clear winner.

Anti-austerity parties who won huge swathes of the vote last time are continuing to gain popularity.

Most Greeks say they want to remain in the Eurozone and EU leaders who have just met in Brussels confirmed they are committed to Greece remaining and will back plans to try and boost growth in the eurozone.

Zoe Conway reports. 

Former Greek PM gives euro warning

Former Greek PM gives euro warning (BBC, VIDEO)

Greece's former prime minister George Papandreou said it would be a "much worse choice" for Greece to leave the euro.

He warned it would lead to a bank run and destroy the economy.

Speaking to Newsnight's Kirsty Wark, Mr Papandreou said that the upcoming elections needed to send a clear message to stop the insecurity and uncertainty. 

Greeks are very much racist

I spent my holiday in Greece several years ago in a quite nice hotel and as the hotel manager found out that I was iranian he absolutely turned against me and became quite nasty. They can turn quite nasty without reason against you if they find out you come from Middle East.