The opinion of Professor Dusan Sidjanski, president of the Swiss Committee for the Return of the Parthenon Marbles, that Greece should not opt for making the return of the sculptures an issue in courts, has caused an international debate, in light of the arrival, also of Ms Amal Alamudin in Athens to examine just this issue.

Poul Thomsen may have moved on to greener pastures but for many Greeks he remains the face of the troika, having been pictured countless times over the years entering and exiting Finance Ministry buildings during seemingly never-ending negotiations between Greek officials and the country's lenders.

The Ministry of Finance will introduce a new legislative initiative for solving the chronic problem of encroached public land.