The ancient and cultural heritage of Greece continues to resonate throughout the up to date Western international – in its literature, artwork, philosophy and politics.
Situated within the a ways south of the Balkan peninsula, Greece combines the towering mountains of the mainland with over 1,FOUR HUNDRED islands, the most important of that’s Crete.
Post-Global Conflict II Greece saw speedy economic and social amendment, with tourism and transport becoming prime individuals to the economy.
The international financial concern of the late 2000s had a devastating impact on Greece, as the legacy of top public spending and well-liked tax evasion mixed with the credit crunch and the resulting recession to leave the rustic with a crippling debt burden.
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DATA
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Born in 1929, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, a veteran baby-kisser of the centre-proper New Democracy Birthday Party used to be elected president via parliament in February 2015.
The vote was once the fourth attempt to elect a successor to Karolos Papoulias, of the Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok), after earlier failures induced the downfall of the government of Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and snap parliamentary elections.
The presidency is a in large part ceremonial publish, as govt power resides with the high minister.
Top Minister: Alexis Tsipras
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Alexis Tsipras swept into energy by means of profitable snap elections in January 2015 on promises to ease the tough austerity imposed on Greece as part of global bailouts.
He vowed to renegotiate the bailouts worth €240bn (£179bn; $268bn) granted by means of the european Union, European Significant Financial Institution, and World Monetary Fund to maintain heavily indebted Greece afloat in go back for painful government spending cuts and restructuring.
But the creditors refused to budge, and Mr Tsipras – after profitable a “No” vote to the bailout package in a referendum that simplest left Greece going through even more difficult necessities – bowed to their prerequisites in dramatic negotiations within the summer of 2015.
MEDIA
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Tv is Greece’s medium of selection, followed via the press, the internet and radio.
News, variety programmes, comedy and recreation displays dominate height-time TELEVISION. There are a few dozen personal TV channels and a plethora of private radios.
The media have been badly hit via Greece’s economic, social and political situation. Facing declining circulate figures and promoting sales, a few outlets have imposed cuts or closed altogether.
In June 2013, the conservative-led government unexpectedly took state broadcaster ERT off the air and brushed aside its 2,SIX HUNDRED personnel, citing endemic mismanagement. The transfer drew global complaint and sparked a family political obstacle.
A alternative public broadcaster, New Hellenic Radio, Web And Tv (NERIT), made its debut in Would Possibly 2014.
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TIMELINE
Some key dates in Greek history:
1821-1829 – Greek Battle of Independence from Ottoman Empire.
1832 – Prince Otto of Bavaria is chosen because the first king of impartial Greece.
Image copyright Getty Pictures Symbol caption View of Athens from the Acropolis
1919-22 – Greco-Turkish War – Greek invasion of Asia Minor caused by way of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire after Global War 1 is defeated via Turkish forces.
1924 – Greeks vote for the abolition of the monarchy, country turns into republic.
1936 – Common Ioannis Metaxas appointed prime minister, establishes proper-wing dictatorship.
1940 – Italian dictator Benito Mussolini’s forces assault Greece from Italian-held Albania, but are repelled.
1941 – Metaxas dies. Greece falls to German forces.
1942 – 1944 – Fierce resistance to the occupation through communist and royalist factions alike.
1944 – British and Greek forces combine to force Nazi withdrawal.
1946 – 1949 – Royalist events win elections. Resulting civil struggle ends with defeat of communist forces.
Symbol copyright Getty Pictures Symbol caption Ships go through the Corinth canal
1952 – New constitution broadcasts Greece a kingdom ruled via parliamentary democracy. Greece joins Nato.
1967 – Group of military officers seize energy in army coup. Elections are postponed indefinitely and Col George Papadopoulos takes place of business as prime minister.
1973 – Greece declared a republic, the monarchy is abolished and Papadopoulos assumes the presidency.
1974 – A Greece-backed coup in opposition to President Makarios of Cyprus is followed by Turkish invasion and profession of north of the island.
1975 – New charter pronounces Greece a parliamentary republic with a few executive powers vested in a president.
1980 – Conservative Constantine Karamanlis elected president.
1981 – Greece joins EU. Andreas Papandreou’s Socialist Celebration (Pasok) wins elections.
2008 – World credit score crunch plunges Greece right into a severe executive debt quandary, resulting in tight austerity and a dramatic fall in dwelling standards.
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