SAMARAS: The scope of Antonis Samaras’s latest attack on the Mitsotakisgovernment—or, to be precise, more specifically on Kyriakoshimself —leaves little doubt that he has now entered the home stretch toward active involvement in the political arena.
It looked very much like… a warm-up before the start of the race.
The information confirms this, in the sense that his political machinery throughout Greece appears to be gradually shifting into full gear, while contacts are being made and exchanged.
The same sources, however, say that the former prime minister is in no hurry to announce a party. Indeed, he has the luxury of waiting and, if he chooses, to “spring a surprise” shortly before the elections.
In the meantime, he certainly has the opportunity to study the development of Maria Karistianou’s new party, which also appeals to certain “affiliated” audiences.
Judging, however, by the founding declaration and Maria of Tempi’s speech, this particular movement does not—at least for the time being—have the appropriate political profile to be openly supported by him and his followers.
SAMARAS II: Should Samaras re-enter the political arena with his own political party, it appears he would have a single goal.
To secure a critical percentage—under current conditions, even 3% would suffice, granting him a seat in Parliament—in order to trigger a chain reaction within the party and, ultimately, a leadership change in New Democracy.
Something that, judging by the steady rise in political tension, seems likely to be a prerequisite for any post-election coalition government, with New Democracy at its core.
It seems like a modest goal for a former prime minister. The crux of the matter, however, is that Antonis Samaras does not believe he was the one who left New Democracy. He believes that Kyriakos has “usurped” the party and that he must step down from the leadership so that someone else, a “true New Democrat,” can take over .
With Samaras himself, of course, playing an increased “regulatory” role in the days ahead.
OPEKEPE: This is expected to be a week of revelations regarding the Organization’s scandal, as the European Parliament’s Committee on Budgetary Control (CONT) will be in the country from tomorrow through Thursday to conduct its own investigation.
As announced by PASOK MEP Yannis Maniatis and party MP Milena Apostolaki, the committee members will primarily meet with government officials (ministers, deputy ministers, and secretaries-general), while the final schedule includes two additional meetings: with the National Union of Agricultural Cooperatives and with Paraskevi Tycheropoulou.
However, as the two PASOK officials allege, the New Democracy party and the European Parliament group to which the ruling party belongs, the EPP managed to block these two meetings, even threatening that the EPP would withdraw from the mission if contact with Ms. Tycheropoulou were ultimately pursued.
And since Mr. Maniatis is part of the delegation, we will see how the case of the “European Parliamentary inquiry into the OPEKEPE scandal” unfolds .
SYRIZA: Koumoundourou is maintaining the same persistent stance, which is starting to become a bit of a cliché: yes to electoral progressive cooperation, and there is mutual understanding with Alexis Tsipras since “we came from the same womb.”
And yet Amalia (where Mr. Tsipras’s office is located) clarifies day and night that there is absolutely no chance the new party will discuss cooperation with other parties, namely SYRIZA.
This denial was emphatically reiterated by Theoni Kufonikolakou, who will most likely be the press spokesperson for the “Tsipras party” (along with 2-3 others by her side), but for SYRIZA officials who know they have no place in the new party, the equally daily repetition of the above position is due to the hope that dies last.
And judging by the criticism Nikos Kotzias leveled at Mr. Tsipras a few days ago, it seems unlikely that the former foreign minister will be asked to join the new venture either: “SYRIZA did not fail as a government, but as an opposition, ” he noted on social media, implying that the leadership under Mr. Tsipras did not meet expectations following the 2019 election defeat.
As for Dionysis Temboneras ’ resignation (yesterday) from SYRIZA to join the new party, it was more than expected: he had resigned from all of SYRIZA’s governing bodies and was supporting the former prime minister’s preparations for this new venture, having also participated in a panel presentation of “Ithaki.”
It remains to be seen how many others—and who—will close the door on SYRIZA behind them starting tomorrow night, when Tsipras’s party is officially unveiled
FAR ANTURIS: PASOK MEP Nikolas Farantouris, one of the few actively addressing the plight of Christian and other minorities in Syria under the regime of “former jihadist” Jolani.
“What accountability does the regime have toward the European Union within the framework of existing bilateral cooperation? Do you intend to take action from this point forward to ensure that the Syrian regime today complies and finally stops persecuting ethnic and religious communities that include thousands of our fellow citizens in the region?” asked the Greek MEP.
To which he received the same generalities that Kaja offers whenever any issue other than Ukraine is raised.
She mumbled something along the lines of “we can’t say that everything is stable and peaceful” and that “various events are taking place” (meaning the… massacres), while also speaking of “an opportunity” that must be given to the new Syrian authorities on the path toward “the integration of all communities.”
The response provoked a reaction from the Greek MEP, who called for specific measures and a timeline.
As he said, among other things , “Vague statements and generalities are not enough. The protection of religious and ethnic minorities is not optional—it is a fundamental obligation of the EU. We will persist until we see concrete, binding actions and not just statements. The Syrian regime’s accountability to Europe must be clear and immediate.”
It is a pity that the government is only superficially addressing this issue, even though it is aware of the importance of the Christian populations of Syria and the broader Middle East for Greek foreign policy.
Such oversights come back to haunt us down the road...
TOURISM: Today is the final day of the informal consultation on the new Special Spatial Framework for Tourism.
So far, there is no information regarding an extension; however, it remains to be seen whether one will be granted, even at the last minute.
It should be noted that this informal consultation was initiated in response to reactions from tourism stakeholders regarding specific provisions as well as the lack of prior notification regarding them. In fact, during the second round of consultations, industry stakeholders submitted their proposals regarding the new plan, with the Panhellenic Hoteliers Federation calling for, as it stated in a press release “a spatial planning framework that will truly serve sustainable development, environmental protection, and the future of Greek hospitality.”
Local hotel associations, such as those in Rhodes and Corfu, are requesting to be included in Crete’s special status, without the 100-bed limit on new facilities.
However, the truth is that hoteliers and the prime minister, as he himself emphasized from the podium of the General Assembly of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises, share the same or nearly the same view on carrying capacity, namely that it is not a static figure. This alone could lead to changes in the text under discussion.
In any case, the goal is for the relevant Joint Ministerial Decision to be published by June 30.
EFG INTERNATIONAL: Contrary to circulating rumors regarding the Latsis Group’s intention to sell either EFG International in its entirety or EFG Bank, the new three-year business plan forecasts, in addition to strong organic growth (average annual profit growth rate of approximately 15%), targeted acquisitions and mergers in the markets where it already operates, through the utilization of excess capital as well as projected internal capital generation.
The plan calls for hiring 50 to 70 new CROs (Client Relationship Officers) annually and making new, higher investments in technology. The goal is to reduce the cost base by 70 to 80 million Swiss francs by the end of 2028, achieving an average annual increase in profitability of approximately 15% and a RoTE of around 20%.
EFG BANK: EFG Bank, a subsidiary of the EFG Group, headquartered in Luxembourg with branches in Athens and Portugal (Lisbon and Porto), closed the 2025 fiscal year with operating income up 1% year-over-year (€119.7 million).
The impact of lower interest rates during the first half of last year was offset by commissions, higher foreign exchange trading volumes, and increased Treasury interest rate swap activity.
Operating expenses increased by 12% to €70.1 million, mainly due to higher payroll costs, IT expenses, and increased bonus payments. These factors, combined with increased provisions and one-time costs, led to pre-tax profits of €50.5 million (down 18% year-over-year), while net profit stood at €37.9 million (-16% year-on-year), with the bank fully utilizing deferred tax assets.
The cost-to-income ratio stood at 57.8% (2024: 51.9%)
EFG BANK II: The rise in geopolitical tensions, combined with a weaker dollar and lower interest rates, is sustaining an environment of reduced visibility, according to EFG Bank management.
On the other hand, long-term trends in private banking remain unchanged, with some variations due to the fluid geopolitical environment. Wealth creation remains strong globally.
The financial wealth of HighNet Worth Individuals is expected to grow by approximately 6% annually through 2030. Demand for risk diversification services is expanding, not only across asset classes but also across geographic regions, due to the realignment of geopolitical and trade relationships—a development that favors Swiss private banking.
Finally, the transfer of assets from the baby boomer generation to their children or grandchildren is imminent, which is expected to be the largest intergenerational transfer of wealth in history.
LAMDA DEVELOPMENT: The listed company confirmed late Friday the report by Euro2day.gr regarding a new market offering, gearing up for a bond issue of up to €350 million, with a minimum amount of €330 million. The bond will have a seven-year maturity.
The company intends to use the proceeds for the early repayment of the €320 million bond it issued in July 2020, a move interpreted by the market as an effort to better manage borrowing costs and extend maturities, at a time when interest rates are trending upward.
As for the timing, television advertisements for the company have begun, although this column has been informed that certain formalities with the Hellenic Capital Market Commission remain unresolved.
Sources believe it will be difficult to open the book of offers this week, likely postponing the process until next week.
DEH: The stock closed on Thursday at a 214-month high (€21.36), buoyed by the significant oversubscription of the capital increase. At the same time, during the session on the same day, the blocks of 13.4 million treasury shares were sold to investors through a parallel process at the capital increase price (€18.63).
In this context, Friday’s profit-taking was largely expected. The stock closed at €20.60, which was the day’s low, with trading volume at €65.4 million.
On Tuesday, the shares issued as part of the capital increase will begin trading. On this occasion, George Stassis will ring the bell to open the session.
DIVIDENDS: Alpha Trust Andromeda shares will trade today without the €0.42 per share dividend, as the dividend has been suspended.
However, Bank of Cyprus shareholders will also receive a dividend. The coupon is €0.50 per share (the net amount each shareholder receives may vary depending on their tax residency).
CREDIA-EVR: A strong upward trend emerged during Friday’s trading session for all parties involved in the acquisition of Europe Holdings by CrediaBank
The bank’s stock continued its upward trend, rising 2.4% to 1.28 euros, marking the third consecutive session of gains, with Eleni Vrettou analyzing the synergies arising from both the latest deal and the series of acquisitions both domestically and abroad.
The insurance company’s stock also rose, once again surpassing €2 with a 3.6% gain, though it failed to recoup the heavy losses of over 8% it suffered on the day the deal was announced.
The stock of the retailer Intracom saw a strong upward move, closing nearly 6% higher at 3.69 euros, while Bally’s Intralot was also among the session’s gainers, rising over 4% to €1.167.
ADMIE: ADMIE shares saw a strong upward trend on Friday ahead of the upcoming €1 billion rights offering, closing with gains of over 7.5% at €3.64.
Market participants explain that the stock is benefiting from the improved sentiment toward energy companies created by PPC’s successful rights offering.
At the same time, investors are also betting on the guidance for annual earnings growth of 25-30% through 2029 due to the €6 billion in investments the Operator will undertake.
ADMIE CEO Manos Manousakis outlined the investment plan during a conference call with analysts and institutional investors on Friday.