Mitsotakis

'I want to underline that the natural environment suffered a substantial catastrophe and certainly we must be concerned that there was such an [enormous] fire in mid-May,' the PM said.

'Tourism will open on Saturday, 15 May, with specific terms for people who have been vaccinated and for those who will have to travel with tests. On 15 May, travel between prefectures will be permitted for all citizens,' the PM said.

Though the announcement brought a sigh of relief to struggling entrepreneurs, the sector is hardly out of the woods as it is still uncertain when it will re-open.

'I am willing to meet with my Turkish counterpart and friend Mevlut Cavusoglu, but of course such a meeting must be held in a suitable climate for it to be meaningful,” said Nikos Dendias.

The PM declared that Greece welcomes "this resumption of talks after many years because of the security [guararntees] provided by international law and the safety provided by our defence".

Syriza is unable to discern the wager of Mitsotakis and his inner circle as regards the effectiveness of the symbolism of various cabinet picks for the next day.

With a thumbs up shortly after 1pm today Efstathia Kambisiouli - the head nurse at COVID-19 reference hospital Evangelismos - became the first Greek to receive the Pfizer-Bio-N-Tech vaccine.

"It is in our hands to abide by the measures and to celebrate Christmas with open churches," PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis declared.

Mitsotakis has ratcheted up the pressure on the mayor of Patras, Kostas Peletidis, and regional prefect Nektarios Farmakis to cooperate in strictly enforcing public health measures.

The conservative New Democracy government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis took a controversial decision to ban not only the massive annual protest march but also any gathering of over four individuals nationwide.

The opposition parties expressed their disagreements over the government’s management of the crisis both before and during the second wave of the pandemic.

Mitsotakis spoke about the need to coordinate the distribution of vaccines and the technical specifications required so that populations can be vaccinated swiftly.

'I want to show that the decisions are guided by the epidemiological data...the scientific data should not be an object of controversy,' the PM said in announcing the lockdown.

Judging by its most recent measures the Greek government in the current second wave of the pandemic has continued implementing a more mild, gradual, and conservative strategy.

Proponents of reforms insist that historically in times of cataclysmic events great changes can offer salvation by equipping countries and mobilising societies.

Greek analysts often cite bilateral economic relations and the the huge trade between Turkey and the wealthier EU member states as the key reason for their reluctance to impose sanctions.

'New Democracy excluded them [Golden Dawn] from state funding and  refused to legitimise their presence even in simple, ceremonial events,' the PM said.

'It is up to Turkey to close the path of crisis and open a path of resolution. We are willing to meet it on that second path and I’m optimistic that is the route we will take, to the benefit of our two peoples,” Mitsotakis said.

The main opposition party is sailing on the same course that brought its defeat and is thus demonstrating that it cannot or does not know how to change course.

'The summit "is a significant meeting for Greek-Turkish relations and beyond, for all foreign relations the EU has,' said Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas.