THESSALONIKI — After the Delphi Economic Forum was canceled and went online because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the New Democracy government is said to be mulling pulling the plug on one of Greece's major events, the September Thessaloniki International Fair.

TIF, as it is called, is where Prime Ministers make a kind of de facto State of the State address annually, lay out their agendas and tout their achievements, but also a scene of protests against policies, austerity and other grievances.

With cases rising again as people have ignored or defied health measures aimed at preventing the spread of the Coronavirus, and more restrictions put in place for public

The final decision will be made by the expert committee advising the government which is monitoring the development of the pandemic daily with Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis trying to balance saving lives against getting the economy going.

The 85th TIF is scheduled to open its gates on September 5 and Germany will be the Honored Country, covering all 6,000 square meters (64,583.46 square feet) of Pavilion 13, which houses the guest country.

The German-Greek Chamber of Commerce and Industry announced last month that German Pavilion as been fully booked and will host a total of 56 companies, the bookings made despite COVID-19, but now the whole event possibly called off over the pandemic.