The CEO of ELTA, Grigoris Sklikas, has resigned following strong reactions from New Democracy MPs to the organization’s restructuring plan, which included the closure of over 200 branches across the country.

A broad meeting has been underway since 10:00 this morning at Maximos Mansion under the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, on the issue of the restructuring of ELTA after the fierce reactions of New Democracy MPs.

Ministers and the vice president of the government, Kostis Hatzidakis, are participating in the meeting under the Prime Minister.

The issue rose high on the agenda after yesterday’s marathon teleconference of New Democracy MPs with ELTA CEO Grigoris Sklikas, from whom explanations were requested regarding the plan to close more than 200 branches nationwide — while some even called for his resignation.

Now, according to information, during the day decisions are expected to be made on the matter, the framework of which will be set by government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, while the scheduled 13:00 session of the Economic Affairs and Production & Trade committees is “up in the air” in the wake of the latest developments.

CEO of ELTA in the crosshairs

It should be recalled that for about 4.5 hours yesterday evening, from 18:30 to 23:00, dozens of ND MPs unleashed on ELTA CEO Grigoris Sklikas over the company’s restructuring plan, asking him to withdraw the plan to close 204 branches — while many openly asked him to resign.

It is questionable, after what happened yesterday — which in some cases resembled a rodeo — how Mr. Sklikas will remain in his position and move forward with a restructuring plan that ND MPs as a whole reject.

All of the above were placed on the table in the morning coffee at Maximos. It should be noted Mitsotakis will not visit Komotini today, as was originally planned.

It is clear the ELTA affair was the drop that overflowed the glass for an anxious Parliamentary Group which sees the governing party far away from an outright majority in polling, and simultaneously hears growing complaints from citizens. Many MPs even connected the ELTA issue with OPEKEPE, saying that it was not enough that they had to answer for the subsidies affair — now they also had to answer for the management of the company. Management which they also questioned in unison, wondering how it is possible that within a year a company that was posting profits is now said to be… sinking and facing a serious viability problem.

“The cuckold finds out last”

At any rate, the quote of the night yesterday was made early by Thessaloniki B MP Theodoros Karaoglou, who remarked that in the case of ELTA the saying “the cuckold always finds out last” applies. “We MPs are the cuckolds”, he added, to demonstrate the lack of briefing they had — learning literally at the last moment.

More than 40 “blue” MPs took the floor in a stormy internal party process coordinated by ND parliamentary spokesman Notis Mitarakis (Maximos Harakopoulos was absent) — which reminded many of the turbulent days of the same-sex marriage discussions. “Then there were two sides. Now all MPs agree,” a senior ND MP noted sarcastically, also estimating that Mr. Sklikas is essentially on borrowed time after yesterday’s discussion.

It should be noted, yesterday government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis supported Mr. Sklikas, but the scene of last night’s teleconference had not intervened — which de facto changes the data. And now the Hellenic Corporation of Assets & Participations also enters the equation, whose head Yiannis Papachristou also got an earful yesterday in conversations with “blue” MPs, many of whom asked what the management had been doing all this time.

It is interesting that very “Mitsotakis-aligned” figures also came directly against management, such as Deputy Migration Minister Sevi Voloudaki and former ND secretary Maria Syrengela. As well as MPs Dionysis Aktypis, Dimitris Kyriazidis, Giannis Pappas, Fontas Baraliakos, while former Deputy Minister of Macedonia–Thrace Stathis Konstantinidis went so far as to say the Parliamentary Group should convene over the issue.

“Take it back”

Among those who led the reactions — giving the tone — was ND B’ Piraeus MP Dimitris Markopoulos. “Take it back,” said Markopoulos — a phrase that then became a trend — with many ND MPs asking for a course correction. At the same time many also raised the issue of the management stepping down. Many spoke harshly about the “technocratic” profile.

“Gentlemen, we have a parliamentary republic — not a technocratic republic,” said Nikos Panagiotopoulos. “I cannot hear about technocratic approaches while we take the political cost. You did not have the basic sensitivity to brief us,” said Foteini Arabatzi. “I do not understand why this discussion is happening with one non-competent minister and two technocrats,” said Andreas Katsaniotis. “I understand that whoever wants to cover his uselessness puts on the technocrat suit. They don’t have the decency to resign — they are useless,” said Miltos Chrysomallis.

Many MPs also wondered yesterday with what line ND will enter today’s parliamentary discussion — from the moment that government MPs themselves showed they strongly disagree with the provision. Only one supported it yesterday — ND parliamentary spokesman Dimitris Kairidis.