Angela Merkel

'The difficulties were a given when the issue was the stability of the euro, and I personally was absolutely cognisant of the excessive burden and challenge that this entailed for the people of Greece.'

The date of Merkel’s arrival was announced by the deputy government spokeswoman, Ulrike Demer.

Introversion, moderation, and cautiousness are the basic elements that always characterised the outgoing chancellor, according to a biography that will soon be available in Greek.

Germany will not be able to effectively put the brakes on reforms being pushed by French President Emmanuel Macron and at the same time it will not be able to exert a drastic influence on the frugal countries of the European North.

A positive outcome such as that in Evros is feasible only when the EU partners realise that there are common European interests that must be defended as staunchly as possible.  

Finance Minister Olaf Scholz, who earlier tweeted that he was working from home due to a heavy cold and was “getting tested to be on the safe side”, said that the government was looking at additional steps to help firms hit by the virus.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that the Greek government’s programme offers better growth prospects.

Participants included Hellenic Bank Association President Nikos Karamouzis, German Hellenic Chamber President Michalis Mailis, Aegean Airlines President Eftychios Vasilakis, Cosmote CEO Michael Tsamaz, and Evangelos Mytilineos.

The talks also touched on tax cuts that ND has proposed, attracting investment, and continuing on the path of structural reforms.

The party of the prime minister, SYRIZA, was among the political forces that exploited the indignation citizens and indeed fueled it.

'This is not the end of reforms but rather the beginning. The problems have not entirely been transcended,' Merkel said.

Merkel’s meeting with Mitsotakis is of particular interest, as he is presumed to be the country’s next PM and he staunchly opposes the Greece-FYROM Prespa Agreement

Merkel’s statement that “nationalism must not pass” places a little stone in the building of a wall against nationalism and populism, as does the reminder that toleration is the soul of Europe.

'When police officers arrested several Rouvikonas members who broke into parliament last year, Nikos Voutsis, the Speaker, called up the citizens’ protection minister and ordered their immediate release on the grounds that ‘it was a simple act of protest.'

Asked by Ta Nea about pension cuts, Angela Merkel's office has signaled that the Greek government must stay the course of reforms, as agreed to this past summer, upon the completion of the third and last bailout memorandum.

'Over the past few years, people in Germany, myself included, have sympathised deeply as Greece has fought to repair its economy,' Weidmann said.