Alexis Tsipras

Tsipras concluded the Prespa Agreement with Zoran Zaev, accepting the name 'Republic of North Macedonia'. A large proportion of Greek public opinion opposed it; mass demonstrations sometimes turned violent, and New Democracy tabled a no-confidence motion in June 2018.

Attribution

Political responsibility

Panos Kammenos and the Independent Greeks left the government in opposition to the Prespa Agreement. Tsipras lost his coalition majority and requested a confidence vote, which he won by 151 votes out of 300 with support from several MPs outside SYRIZA.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The Mati wildfire killed dozens of people and prompted strong criticism concerning warnings, evacuation, planning and coordination of public services. Tsipras accepted 'full political responsibility', and his Civil Protection Minister ultimately resigned.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Tsipras and Archbishop Ieronymos announced a preliminary agreement under which approximately 10,000 priests would no longer be classified as civil servants paid directly by the state, in return for an annual subsidy and a property arrangement with the Church.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Flash floods in Mandra and western Attica killed numerous people and devastated hundreds of buildings. Subsequent investigations identified serious administrative omissions, notably concerning flood prevention works and illegal construction.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Person targeted by the proceedings

des responsables régionaux et locaux

Role of the person profiled

Protagonist not prosecuted

To meet bailout programme targets, the Tsipras government reformed pensions and increased contributions and taxes, triggering farmers' road blockades and pensioners' demonstrations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

After suspending the sale of the Port of Piraeus in early 2015, the Tsipras government resumed the process and sold a majority stake to COSCO. Dockworkers went on strike and condemned what they called a sell-off of public assets.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The government had limited the number of national television licences to four and entrusted the auction to State Minister Nikos Pappas, an associate of Tsipras. The Council of State ruled the arrangement unconstitutional because it bypassed the independent audiovisual regulator.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Close aide

Following SYRIZA's election victory without an absolute majority, Tsipras quickly formed a government with the Independent Greeks (ANEL), a national-conservative party opposed to immigration and multiculturalism and supportive of a stronger role for the Orthodox Church.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Tsipras announced a referendum on conditions proposed by European creditors and the IMF, rejecting what he described as an ultimatum. The decision surprised European partners and immediately heightened uncertainty over Greece's place in the eurozone.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Following the referendum announcement, mass withdrawals and the ECB's decision not to increase emergency liquidity assistance, the government closed banks and limited cash withdrawals from ATMs to 60 euros per day.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

After 61% of voters rejected the creditors' conditions, Tsipras accepted a third bailout programme a few days later, including tax increases, spending cuts, privatisations and increased oversight of economic policy. This reversal became the central controversy of his term.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Following approval of the third bailout and rebellion by a substantial section of SYRIZA, Tsipras resigned to trigger snap elections. Anti-bailout MPs left the party to form Popular Unity.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

Under Tsipras, Parliament approved a budget containing approximately 5.7 billion euros in spending cuts, including pension- and defence-related reductions, alongside more than 2 billion euros in tax increases.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility

The left-wing government, which had frozen asset sales on taking office, ultimately approved and signed the concession of 14 regional airports to Germany's Fraport for approximately 1.2 billion euros.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Political responsibility