Episodes
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Greece’s political landscape is shifting at remarkable speed. Alexis Tsipras’s new party, ELAS, has upended the opposition, destabilised SYRIZA, rattled PASOK, and pushed New Democracy into full campaign mode. With voters frustrated, trust low, and new actors entering the scene, the run‑up to the next elections is proving unusually volatile.
In this episode, Nick Malkoutzis is joined by MacroPolis co‑founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou to unpack the major developments:
– New Democracy’s stability‑focused messaging and internal anxieties
– ELAS’s rapid rise and organisational build‑out
– SYRIZA’s existential crisis
– PASOK’s strategic confusion
– The rise - and subsequent slide - of Maria Karystianou’s Elpida
As Greece heads toward elections, which are expected later this year or next spring, the political system is entering a new phase of flux. Yiannis and Georgia help us make sense of what’s driving this moment and what we should expect next.
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Greece says it is entering a new era of “brain regain”. Government programmes like Rebrain Greece are touring European capitals, employers are hiring, and the economy is finally growing again. But is the tide really turning?
In this episode of The Agora, host Nick Malkoutzis digs into the data behind Greece’s talent flows, and finds a far more complicated picture. While official narratives highlight return migration, European surveys show the number of Greeks abroad is still rising, especially among university graduates. And the deeper, structural drivers of the brain drain remain stubbornly in place.
To make sense of it all, we speak with Dr Elli Siapkidou, a UK‑based researcher who attended the recent Rebrain Greece event in London. She offers a first‑hand view of what these initiatives can achieve, and what they cannot.
Is Greece truly reversing the brain drain, or simply reframing it? And what would real, evidence‑based “brain regain” actually require?
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The war in Iran is sending economic and energy shockwaves far beyond the Middle East, and Greece is no exception. Rising oil and gas prices, renewed inflation pressures, and uncertainty in global energy markets are already shaping the country’s outlook.
In this episode of The Agora, we break down how a conflict thousands of kilometres away is affecting Greece’s economy, energy security, and political decisions.
MacroPolis co founder Yiannis Mouzakis joins us to assess the economic implications, from inflation risks to the government’s fiscal plans. Georgia Nakou, MacroPolis features editor and energy expert, explains how turbulence in global energy markets could impact Greece’s energy system and long term strategy.
If you want to understand how international crises ripple into Greece - through prices, policy, and the energy system - we've got you covered.
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When a set of long‑lost photographs of the 1944 May Day executions of 200 Greeks by Nazi occupation forces suddenly surfaced on eBay in February, Greece was shaken.
The images — the first ever to show the two hundred political prisoners, Communists, walking to their deaths at the Kaisariani shooting range in Athens — reopened a chapter of history that has never stopped shaping the country’s politics.
With the help of our guest Professor Elias Dinas from the European University Institute in Florence, in this episode we explore why these photographs matter now: how they collide with decades of suppressed memory, why Kaisariani remains a defining symbol for the Greek Left, and what their reappearance reveals about the ongoing struggle over who gets to tell the story of the past.
Useful reading
Never-before-seen photos of Nazi executions in Greece surface on eBay – France24
‘We can see that courage’: Greece recovers long-lost photos of Nazis’ May Day executions – The Guardian
Man moved as photo of grandfather’s execution by Nazis surfaces - Kathimerini
Message from the past, mirror for today - Kathimerini
Kaisariani Execution: Three More Historic Photographs Surface – To Vima
Photographs of 1944 Nazi Executions in Greece Declared Protected Monument – Dnews
Cretan Man Recognizes His Grandfather in Kaisariani Execution Pics – To Vima
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Greece is navigating one of its most complex geopolitical moments in years — from tensions stretching across Venezuela, Greenland, Iran, and Ukraine to the high‑stakes energy diplomacy of the Vertical Corridor.
With pressure mounting on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Athens is working to balance alliances, protect its credibility, and seize new economic openings.
In this episode, host Nick Malkoutzis is joined by George Tzogopoulos, Senior Fellow at ELIAMEP and Director of EU–China Programs at the European Institute of Nice. George breaks down the strategic dilemmas shaping Greece’s foreign policy amid the uncertainty created by US President Donald Trump's global designs.
Useful reading
Athens navigates geopolitical whirlwind - Kathimerini
Greece’s Vertical Corridor Heads to Washington After Athens Energy Summit - OT
Trump’s erratic trade policy blamed for US gas auction flop in Eastern Europe - Politico
Athens fears Turkish trap on Trump's peace board - Euractiv
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Greece's 2026 budget was voted through Parliament on Tuesday, just ahead of the Christmas break. It contained some gifts for Greek taxpayers as it includes the tax cuts worth 1.2 billion euros that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis had announced earlier in the year.
But what else of note is in the budget? MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis joins host Nick Malkoutzis in The Agora to discuss the details of the economic plan.
They take a closer look at the role of investments and Greece's broader economic story as it heads into the New Year.
Useful reading
Greek parliament approves 2026 budget amid protests - Reuters
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Greece is trying to secure a central role in the global energy game. In this episode of *The Agora*, we explore how a flurry of recent deals is positioning the country as a key player in the transatlantic energy landscape.
From the launch of the Vertical Corridor - linking U.S. LNG to Ukraine via Greece - to offshore drilling in the Ionian Sea and the revival of the Great Sea Interconnector (GSI) with Cyprus, the stakes are high but the ambitions seem to be even higher.
Is this a strategic masterstroke or a risky bet? Host Nick Malkoutzis is joined by MacroPolis energy expert Georgia Nakou to unpack the geopolitical, environmental and domestic implications of Greece’s energy pivot.
We examine whether Greece can balance power and principle in its new starring role.
Useful reading
Ionian Sea gas exploration deal a ‘vote of confidence’ - Kathimerini
Greece signs first long-term deal to supply Europe with US LNG - Reuters
Athens and Kyiv sign LNG deal as Greece adopts US energy agenda - Politico
Greece: Offshore gas instead of green energy projects? - Deutsche Welle
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Over the past year the United States has reset its trade stance through a series of executive tariff moves and a high profile EU–US framework that established a 15 percent baseline levy.
In this episode we’ll trace how a headline tariff number translates into real costs for businesses in Greece and what broader implications there are for global trade.
Our guest on The Agora is Jens Bastian, an independent economic consultant and author of a timely briefing for MacroPolis on the likely effects of recent US tariff policy on Europe, but also the Greek economy specifically.
Useful reading
How will Trump's tariffs affect Greece? - MacroPolis
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Greece's new political season is underway and it promises to be full of twists and turns as the ruling New Democracy party tries to perform a course correction to get on track for a decisive third straight election victory.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis got the ball rolling this month by announcing a package of significant tax cuts, mostly aimed at helping Greek households cope with ongoing cost-of-living challenges.
Mitsotakis is hoping that the reductions will help rebuild his government's damaged relationship with voters, keep the opposition parties at bay and put the ruling centre-right party on a trajectory that would secure it another parliamentary majority in the next elections, which are due in 2027.
MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou join host Nick Malkoutzis in The Agora to discuss the economic and political implications of the Greek PM's announcements.
Useful reading
Greek Premier Offers €1.6 Billion Tax Cuts to Spur Middle Class - Bloomberg
Greek PM unveils tax breaks amid cost of living crisis - Reuters
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Anyone hoping for a calm summer in Greece just had their hopes dashed. A political storm is engulfing Athens, with four government officials already ousted amid a deepening scandal tied to the misuse of EU agricultural funds.
At the heart of the storm is OPEKEPE—the Payment and Control Agency for Guidance and Guarantee Community Aid. An explosive investigation by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office (EPPO) has uncovered what appears to be sweeping fraud in how EU subsidies were handled. Some experts warn the financial fallout could stretch into the hundreds of millions of euros.
The EPPO has handed over its finding, based in part on legally sanctioned surveillance, to the Greek Parliament. Lawmakers now face a critical decision: whether to lift the parliamentary immunity of more than a dozen politicians named in the case so formal charges can be brought.
Among those implicated are former agricultural development ministers Makis Voridis and Lefteris Avgenakis. Voridis, who had most recently served as migration minister, resigned on June 27, while firmly denying any wrongdoing. Three deputy ministers also stepped down.
This latest crisis couldn’t come at a worse time for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. Still reeling from the public backlash earlier this year over his administration’s handling of the Tempe train disaster, he now finds himself back on the defensive.
So what does this mean for the future of the Mitsotakis government, and for Greek politics as a whole? Could this be the spark that sets off snap elections?
To dig into the implications of Greece’s newest political convulsion, The Agora welcomed MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou for a deep dive into what may be a defining moment for the summer, and beyond.
Useful reading
The big fat Greek plot to defraud the EU – Politico
Prosecutor implicates two Greek ministers in huge EU farm fraud – Politico
EU funds way to get fickle farmers’ vote – Kathimerini
OPEKEPE: The scandal that keeps on giving – Kathimerini
OPEKEPE: The bowl with honey – Inside Story
The country that watched the goats go by – Inside Story
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As the world mulls the impact and consequences of the tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump on so-called "liberation day", Greece has a very specific concern.
The focus of the tariff-related debate in Greece was very much on the fate of feta, Greece's most popular cheese and one of its main agricultural exports to the US and many other parts of the world.
What is feta? Why does it hold such a special place in Greek culture? And, why is Greece so keen to protect this particular product?
To answer all these questions, we invited Thomas Ntinas to join us in The Agora. Thomas is our show's producer, but he joins us in his capacity as the host of The Delicious Legacy, which is an archaeogastronomical podcast that travels through time to discover recipes and traditions from the past, but also to examine the sociopolitical and economic aspects of food and gastronomy.
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Two years after Greece's deadliest rail disaster, the political fallout is escalating rather than abating.
The largest protests Greece has seen in decades were held on February 28 to mark the two-year anniversary of the crash, in which 57 people died when a passenger train collided with a freight train in Tempe, central Greece.
The growing public outcry over how the aftermath of the crash has been handled, as well as the shocking circumstances of the accident itself, has put Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his government under intense pressure.
Mitsotakis survived a confidence vote in parliament on March 7, but the Tempe issue is likely to haunt his government for the rest of its second term.
MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou joined The Agora to discuss the political implications of the latest developments.
Useful reading
Tempe Accident Investigation Report - EODASAAM
Two years later, outrage over Tempe disaster hits a tipping point - Kathimerini
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The return of Donald Trump to the White House seems to be causing a reordering of international relations, an end to many of the certainties we had in geopolitics.
This has left Europe facing a major re-think of its stance on security and defence issues. To discuss what changes are taking place and what it means for Europe, including Greece, Dr Jens Bastian joined us in The Agora.
Jens is a Senior Policy Adviser at the Hellenic Foundation of European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP). He is, among other things, an expert on EU-China relations, and has recently been working as a research fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) in Berlin
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On the latest episode of The Agora we look at what the return of Donald Trump to the White House could mean for Greece.
Host Nick Malkoutzis speaks to Macropolis foreign policy analyst Alexandra Voudouri about the concerns and hopes Greek diplomats have concerning the Trump presidency and its impact on geopolitics.
Our second guest, Frank De Mita, who has worked on several US presidential campaigns, discusses some of the lessons mainstream parties in Greece can take from the Democrats' defeat in the US and the way that political communication is changing.
Useful reading
Post-election blamestorming or Why Harris lost and the Democrats should nominate Oprah - Frank De Mita
Who is Kimberly Guilfoyle, Trump's pick for US ambassador to Greece? - BBC News
What Will a Second Trump Presidency Mean For Greece? - To Vima
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Costas Simitis, who served as Greece's prime minister between 1996 and 2004, died at the age of 88 on January 5. He left behind a bountiful legacy, which included Greece's entry into the euro and a raft of infrastructure projects.
His record, though, is contested by some Greeks who feel that the seeds of future problems were sown during his period in office.
On this episode of The Agora, host Nick Malkoutzis discusses Simitis's contribution and record with Kathimerini columnist Nikos Konstandaras.
Useful links
Costas Simitis, former Greek prime minister and socialist leader, dies at 88 - Associated Press
Costas Simitis and the measure of things - Kathimerini
‘This is Greece!,’ Costas Simitis’ rallying cry - Kathimerini
Greece Recalls Former PM Simitis as Architect of Country’s Modernisation - BIRN
Imia, behind the scenes - Kathimerini
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Greek Parliament is about to vote on the 2025 budget, so The Agora is looking at what the government's economic plan entails, while also examining the bigger picture as far as the country's economy is concerned.
MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis joins us to explain why there has been so much attention on the revenue side of the budget. He also identifies where the key strengths and weaknesses of the Greek economy lie as we prepare for a year that seems full of uncertainty.
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SYRIZA, the leftist party that experienced a stunning rise to power from the fringes of Greek politics, has elected a new leader but will it be enough to rescue it from its slide back to the sidelines?
Its former leader, nascent politician Stefanos Kasselakis, has hit back by launching his own party, Movement for Democracy. Will he have any impact or is it all show?
These are some of the questions host Nick Malkoutzis attempts to answer with the help of MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou.
Useful reading
Greece’s wounded left elects new chief - Euractiv
Assessing Greece’s new political landscape - Ekathimerini
Greek politics goes from stability to state of flux - MacroPolis
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In mid-November, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis decided to expel from the ruling New Democracy party one of his predecessors, Antonis Samaras.
Samaras headed the centre-right party for several years and was the leader of a coalition government between 2012 and 2015, which means his dismissal was big news in Greece.
So, why did Mitsotakis make this dramatic move and what it could mean not only for unity within New Democracy, but also for the stability of the Greek government?
MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou joined Nick Malkoutzis to discuss all the permutations.
Useful reading
Former Greek premier Samaras is expelled from the ruling conservative party - Associated Press
Turkey rapprochement sparks rift in Greece’s ruling party - Politico
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Nikos Androulakis has been re-elected as leader of PASOK, the centre-left party that is hoping to establish itself as the main opposition party in Greece and, ultimately, challenge centre-right New Democracy for power.
Given that Androulakis cruised to his victory, was there any point to this leadership contest? Also, where does it leave PASOK as it seeks to take advantage of turmoil at leftist SYRIZA and build some momentum as the social democrats seek to close the gap on Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis?
MacroPolis co-founder Yiannis Mouzakis and features editor Georgia Nakou join host Nick Malkoutzis to work out what has happened and what might happen.
Useful reading
Androulakis Wins Second Chance to Revive Greece’s Centre-Left Party - Balkan Insight
Androulakis’ last chance - Kathimerini
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The Agora hosts a discussion on how Europe, and Greece specifically, have been handling the green transition, addressing questions like how the pivot away from natural gas is going.
The basis for our discussion is three articles written by MacroPolis features editor Georgia Nakou, and senior policy analyst and partner at The Green Tank, an Athens-based think-tank, Nikos Mantzaris.
The articles were published in English by MacroPolis, and in Greek by Inside Story. They were produced with the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Athens as part of a climate journalism project.
Useful links
Is Greece on track to decouple from fossil gas? - By Nikos Mantzaris
Can the Green Transition be just? - By Nikos Mantzaris
From pipe dreams to power cables: the changing map of Greece's energy ambitions - By Georgia Nakou
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