On Tuesday, December 2, at 2 p.m., former sports woman-model-publisher-cum MP Elena Kountoura was seen at TGI Friday’s at uptown Kolonaki. The beautiful woman who currently serves as a deputy for the right-wing Independent Greeks (ANEL), who left the conservative New Democracy party in 2012 sought a group of women already waiting for her: Government Spokeswoman Sofia Voultepsi, Former deputy minister Zetta Makri, and owner of Ikaros Publications Chrysi Karydi who served in Parliament in the conservative New Democracy government of former prime minister Kostas Karamanlis.

The ladies had lunch

Ms. Kountoura appeared at the restaurant, casually dressed, but even if one were to assume that the meeting was purely motivated by friendship there is no doubt that talk would have turned to politics bearing in mind the background of the women involved. Their late lunch ran for an hour, the ladies had healthy salads, but tongues are wagging as to what the “dessert” of the low calorie meeting might be.

The meeting takes on an even greater scope bearing in mind independent deputy Panagiotis Melas who had, until recently, served with the ANEL party. Mr. Melas had said that there were four ANEL deputies who want to vote for a President of the Republic.

As if the “friendly” meeting at the casual restaurant weren’t enough, another telltale sign of Ms. Kountoura’s intention may have been in the corridors of Greek Parliament two days after the ladies’ chat. Ms. Kountoura warmly greeted Prime Minister Antonis Samaras and gave a hug to Minister of State Dimitris Stamatis after he said, “come here so I can kiss you”, followed by secrets from ear to ear. Around two months ago, Ms. Kountoura had also had a meeting with Mr. Stamati at a restaurant at Pangrati.

Hugs and secrets with Minister of State Dimitris Stamatis

Ms. Kountoura so far has shaken off suggestions that these meetings are an indication that she is planning to flee the ANEL family. As she says, “you can’t penalize social relations.”