Cabinet reshuffle expected as soon as Friday
A cabinet reshuffle is expected in Greece as soon as Friday, according to media reports.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/1241511/cabinet-reshuffle-expected-as-soon-as-friday
Greek PM has no interest in top Brussels job
A spokesperson for Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis denied on Thursday that Mitsotakis was seeking Ursula von der Leyen’s post as president of the European Commission.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/politics/1241465/mitsotakis-denies-seeking-von-der-leyens-job
Kasselakis assesses the election results
Leader of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance Stefanos Kasselakis assessed the election results and extended an invitation to PASOK and Plefsi Eleftherias parties to collaborate “transparently” within the framework of parliamentary work, speaking to his party’s parliamentary group, on Thursday.
https://www.amna.gr/en/article/827003/Kasselakis-assesses-the-election-results
One seafarer killed in Houthi attack on Greek-owned ship
A seafarer on the Greek-owned bulk carrier Tutor was killed in Wednesday’s Houthi attack against the ship, it was reported on Thursday.
ATHEX: NBG leads stock market index lower
Thursday offered investors another bank-centered decline for stocks, which came with a drop in turnover too. The benchmark at Athinon Avenue took significant losses and even closed at the day’s low, pointing to a trend for a further drop on Friday morning at least. Observers say the market is waiting for the sale of blue chip Terna Energy to unleash some liquidity.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1241462/athex-nbg-leads-stock-market-index-lower
KATHIMERINI: Tenders delayed, citizens plagued
TA NEA: New Democracy fell in 4 traps
EFIMERIDA TON SYNTAKTON: University entry thresholds decline in 3 fields
AVGI: Kasselakis proposes front to overthrow Mitsotakis
RIZOSPASTIS: The Government is undermining the workers of LARKO
KONTRA NEWS: Ministers challenge the PM
DIMOKRATIA: New Democracy is ousting the American spin doctor ‘guru’ and is left with the incompetent
NAFTEMPORIKI: What’s to blame for the thousands of vacant employment positions
DRIVING THE DAY: PARLIAMENT POWER GAMES
HOW TO MAKE GROUPS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE: The received wisdom after Sunday’s election results is that the EPP-S&D-Renew coalition remains in charge in the European Parliament. But the back-door dealmaking going on right now could jeopardize that.
Delayed right-wing swing: Analysis by POLITICO’s Hanne Cokelaere shows there are 91 new MEPs yet to choose a political home in Parliament, more than 50 of whom are on the right of the EPP.
That means it’s all to play for: There’s no catching the EPP, the largest group, or the Socialists, who are second. But a fight for third place is being waged by the liberal Renew Europe group — which wants to stay relevant even with a depleted French contingent — and the European Conservatives and Reformists of Giorgia Meloni and Poland’s Law and Justice. As things stand, they are just a few MEPs apart.
Size matters: A bigger group means more money and more influence in Parliament. If ECR bumps up its numbers, it could damage the “center holds” narrative that many in Brussels are consoling themselves with.
The Orbán factor: The ECR could blow Renew out the water by accepting the Fidesz party of Hungarian Prime Minister ViktorOrbán, who has been vocal about his desire to bring his 10 MEPs into ECR. But members of the group from Sweden, Finland and elsewhere have threatened to leave if he joins. So, numerically, it might be counterproductive.
Marriage of convenience? Could a compromise be in the offing? Two ECR sources said a “confederation” akin to how the Greens and European Free Alliance sit together in a two-legged group could be on the cards and has been discussed in private meetings this week. Imagine it like a marriage — but one in which the couple sleeps in separate bedrooms.
Renew’s growth strategy: Nabbing Volt’s five MEPs is Renew’s main ambition — but Volt might be keener on the Greens. Party members get to vote on it this weekend.
Biggest prize: The juiciest fruit hanging in no-man’s land, though, is the 5Star Movement’s eight MEPs — the biggest contingent that isn’t on the far right. Two sources said Renew could be an option for them, although a 5Stars spokesperson shot it down as “pure fantasy.” Rumors have also swirled that Slovak PM Robert Fico’s Smer — excluded from the S&D group — could make a group with them. But the six Smer MEPs want to rejoin the S&D as a priority, MEP Katarína Roth Neveďalová told Playbook.
Manfred on a mission: Manfred Weber, the EPP leader, is touching down in Budapest this morning for talks with new opposition leader Péter Magyar about bringing his seven MEPs into the center-right group. They could also add three more MEPs from the Netherlands and two from the Danish Liberal Alliance.
Group chiefs jostle to retain power: The leaders of the EPP, S&D and Renew are fighting to keep their jobs, with crunch votes in the next 12 days. Weber seems to have it sewn up. S&D chief Iratxe García is facing down the Italians in her bloc, who outnumber her Spanish Socialists by one. Renew’s Valérie Hayer is fighting a rearguard battle against a potential challenge from the likes of former Belgian PM Sophie Wilmès.
Reminder: Group leaders matter because they’re the ones who’ll hammer out a policy deal with the next Commission president.
Greens in or out? As my colleague Louise Guillot has been writing, the Greens are now openly saying they’re ready to compromise and support Ursula von der Leyen for a second term as Commission chief — for a price. No sign yet that the EPP’s arm is outstretched, though.
Just the 3 of us? The Socialists want the Greens in, and Renew are partial to that, too. But von der Leyen is keeping the circle narrow for now. She opened talks with the Socialists’ chief García at the Berlaymont this week.
Out in the cold? The more ECR politicians make far-fetched claims of being a “huge group” that can’t be ignored, the more it sounds like they’re nervous about being left out of the new majority that will get to shape the next Commission work program. If the Greens can strike a deal with von der Leyen, the Socialists and Renew, von der Leyen won’t need Meloni’s MEPs to get reelected this summer after all. After months of speculation about the EPP teaming up with Meloni, that would be ironic.
Kingmaker’s privilege: But wait. There’s nothing to stop the EPP from siding with the Greens to get von der Leyen through, and then siding more often with ECR in Parliament on individual votes. If ECR leapfrogs Renew, that might even become too tempting a choice to resist.
G7 CHEATSHEET
4 THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW …
1) TODAY’S TOP TOPIC — AI: PopeFrancis will address G7 leaders about the ethics of AI today — and no, he’s not wearing that jacket. Gian Volpicelli reported Thursday that the G7 is poised to create a label for companies committed to safely developing artificial intelligence tools. The group also aims to use AI to help broader development goals, particularly in Africa, Mark Scott and Gian write.
Also on today’s agenda: Migration, and the G7’s relationship with the wider world. My Global Playbook colleague Suzanne Lynch has a full rundown from on the ground this morning (sign up here).
2) FROZEN ASSETS LATEST: The G7 leaders agreed on a $50B loan for Ukraine, financed by frozen Russian assets. While G7 countries are expected to provide their own separate loans, French President Emmanuel Macron floated an EU-wide one. Full details here.3) UKRAINE NABS SECURITY DEALS: The U.S. struck a 10-year security deal with Kyiv, in an effort to Trump-proof Ukraine’s defenses. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also secured a multi-billion dollar, 10-year package for Ukraine courtesy of Japan.
Also Trump-proofing: NATO defense ministers are expected today to sign off a new plan for the organization to take over some responsibilities for sending military aid to Ukraine from the U.S., Stuart Lau reports.
4) SWISS SUMMIT PRIMER: Peace in Ukraine looks a distant prospect, writes Veronika Melkozerova ahead of this weekend’s peace conference in Switzerland. Ukrainians want peace, Veronika writes, but they can’t trust Russia.
NOW READ THIS: Writing in an opinion piece for POLITICO, dissidents Garry Kasparov and Mikhail Khodorkovsky argue in favor of a passport to help Russians who want to break with Vladimir Putin’s regime leave the country.
EU TOP JOBS
MICHEL’S LATEST CUNNING PLAN TO CHUCK VON DER LEYEN: European Council President Charles Michel is now shopping around a new EU leadership duo of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis as Commission president and Danish PM Mette Frederiksen as European Council chief. That’s according to five officials and diplomats who spoke to my colleagues Barbara Moens and Jacopo Barigazzi.
Charles Mi-Trump: It’s all “fake news” and “lies,” according to Michel’s spokesperson.
Finally they’ve found a use for the G7, quips my colleague Karl Mathiesen about the family photo: Keeping von der Leyen and Charles Michel as far apart as possible.
Now you know who runs the EU: Von der Leyen has got the White House’s backing for a second term, as Suzanne reported in Thursday’s Global Playbook from the G7. The Yanks think she’s the “likely” next president. Why are we even bothering with all these summits then?
GOLDEN TICKETS: Playbook hears Michel has invited both von der Leyen andEuropean Parliament President Roberta Metsola to Monday’s dinner with EU leaders, where the main course will be top jobs, with a side helping of Michel’s revenge. Served cold. But probably warmed up by mistake.
LIBERALS PICK TOP JOBS NEGOTIATORS: The liberals have picked Estonian PM Kaja Kallas and her outgoing Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo as their chief dealmakers, Barbara Moens and Jakob Hanke Vela report. Will they fight for their colleagues or look to install themselves in top jobs?
WHAT WARSAW WANTS: Forget the hyped up defense commissioner post, Warsaw might be interested in securing the Commission’s enlargement portfolio, according to Polish newspaper Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.
Tusk’s guardian angel: The candidate being considered for the Commission job is said to be Poland’s current ambassador to the EU, Piotr Serafin. He has a ton of experience in Brussels and is a trusted ally of the Polish prime minister (when Donald Tusk was president of the European Council, Serafin was head of his Cabinet).
BARRY ANDREWS FOR COMMISSIONER? The Fianna Fáil MEP is being touted as Ireland’s next EU commissioner. He has said he won’t vote for Ursula von der Leyen — which might make that first College meeting a little awkward.
DRAGHI GETS GONG: Never underestimate Mario Draghi. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez just awarded him a big prize. Is that the only big prize he’ll get this summer?
MEPS, OLD AND NEW
ROLL-CALL VOTE: My hardworking colleagues have compiled a nifty interactive database of all new MEPs. Check it out here.
THE WILD BUNCH PART 2: In Thursday’s Playbook we gave you 11 of the kookiest politicians entering Parliament. Now, get their full biographies and the next dozen in the piece I wrote with Hanne Cokelaere here.
AND THEY’RE OUT! They were itching to come back to Parliament — but the voters said no. Here’s Playbook’s guide to the biggest names who failed to make it back to Brussels & Strasbourg.
Do svidaniya: Irish MEP Mick Wallace, best known for only wearing T-shirts, and his cozy stance on Russia and China, is out.
So long, Sofo: Vincenzo Sofo lost his seat for ECR’s Brothers of Italy party, (though his partner Marion Maréchal won one). Sofo said he will focus on looking after their daughter Clotilde.
Finito: Il Duce’s granddaughter Alessandra Mussolini did not make it back on the Forza Italia ticket. Neither did the S&D’s long-serving MEP Patrizia Toia, or Lampedusa doctor Pietro Bartolo.
Cropped out: Two French farmer MEPs who had a very public rivalry — Renew’s Jérémy Decerle and the Greens’ Benoît Biteau — both lost out. Les Républicain’s Anne Sander didn’t make it either.
Recycled: It’s auf wiedersehen to German Greens Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg, Viola von Cramon-Taubadel and Niklas Nienaß, and bye-bye to Irish Greens’ Grace O’Sullivan and Ciarán Cuffe.
End of the dynasty: Renew’s Polish princess Róża Thun und Hohenstein lost her seat after 15 years, my colleague Giovanna Faggionato reports.
Screeching halt: Momentum’s Katalin Cseh, a Hungarian opposition MEP, is out. Sophie in ‘t Veld also didn’t make it after a risky run for Volt in Belgium.
Finally free: Rainer Wieland, who POLITICO profiled last year as a fierce defender of MEPs’ “freedom of mandate” (and who opposed new ethics rules).