The sudden rapprochement between the two countries did not go unnoticed in the German press, while not long ago Turkey even threatened Greece with war.

What is the cause of this sudden peace? THE “Stuttgarter Nachrichten» basically describes this unprecedented situation for the two countries. For the glowing face of Tsavousoglou after meeting with his “friend Nikos” in Brussels, for the “great joy” of Dendias who spoke with Tsavousoglou.

But the culmination of this approach was the Erdogan’s letter on the occasion of the holiday of March 25“a remarkable gesture, because the day commemorates the start of the Greek revolution against the Ottoman Empire in 1821, which ended with the independence of Greece”, as the columnist reminds.

“Sermons of hate do not fit the times”

The newspaper gives a platform to Yiannis Grigoriadis, head of the program for Turkey at ELIAMEP and professor at the Turkish Bilkent University in Ankara. “Voters prefer a more moderate course,” the Greek professor told the newspaper, presenting a new poll.

“Greeks and Turks have not followed the escalation of policies in both countries.” The newspaper cites the survey’s findings, which showed that before the de-escalation of bilateral relations, citizens in both countries thought the problems were serious, but just under 20% in both countries favored a military solution. “One in two Greeks and more than every second Turk calls for a settlement of political and diplomatic relations,” the newspaper points out.

“Unexpected letter from Turkey: Instead of new threats, Erdogan congratulates the Greek people” observes the German publishing network RND, referring to the congratulatory letter for March 25.

“The sudden easing of tensions after constant threats is even more surprising and is mainly due to the devastating earthquakes that hit southeastern Turkey in early February,” the columnist recalls.

“Greece was one of the first foreign countries to send rescue teams. Erdoğan has obviously realized that the hate sermons against Greece no longer fit the times, they are not useful to him in the election campaign.”

SZ: The rage in Greece is back

The tragedy of Tempe continues to preoccupy the German press. THE “Süddeutsche Zeitung” tries to find an answer to the question, what is it that pushes people to protest again, even weeks after the accident, against a government that does not “complete its obligations” just before the elections.

The answer; “It’s not just the dozens of dead … but something bigger” notes her commentator. “Anger is directed against a state, which the world feels has abandoned and betrayed it. If this state is not able and willing to protect the lives of citizens by obvious means, what else can one expect from it?”

“Rot Beneath the Surface”

The newspaper refers to the economic achievements of recent years that brought the country “a breathing phase”, as it characteristically calls it, to tourism that is booming and the possibility for the country to repay its debts ahead of schedule. “And yet the crisis situation is back on track. For Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the climate is dangerous.”

In the brief review of the actions of the Greek prime minister, the tone is positive. For the improvements that his policy has brought to the everyday lives of citizens, less bureaucracy, digitization in dealings with the public, government subsidies on the electricity bill. “But all this fades in front of the railway disaster and its background” the newspaper underlines.

“The disaster brutally exposed the rot beneath the surface of the modernized state. And according to the opinion polls, the outcome of the elections may be marginal for Mitsotakis, SYRIZA is approaching. But also on a political level, many issues have opened up again in crisis Greece after the destruction of Tempe”.