Topic: Antonis Samaras

Greece holds a pivotal general election on January 25, 2015, with the anti-austerity Syriza party led by Alexis Tsipras leading in the polls. The party's platform focuses on ending wage cuts and renegotiating the country's massive debt rather than an immediate exit from the Eurozone. Incumbent Prime Minister Antonis Samaras campaigns on a platform of stability and continued European integration.

New Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras proposes a two-year delay on debt repayments while initiating a massive privatization program of state assets. The strategy is compared to the "Katastroika" seen in post-unification East Germany and Russia, where public infrastructure was sold at deep discounts to private interests. The appointment of a new finance minister is noted following the sudden resignation of his predecessor due to health issues.