-Hello, yesterday’s debate had been described by the opposition and Mitsotakis’s opponents as the “mother of all battles,” the “big showdown,” and other grandiose labels. I will say (or rather write) the following: First, big battles and corresponding showdowns in Parliament always happen when the issues under discussion are “burning” in public opinion. Yes, when political leaders debated Tempi around this time last year, the issue was “burning” across Greece, as there were still strong impressions from the massive rally and the theories about xylene, which of course turned out to be conspiracy nonsense. OPEKEPE and the wiretapping scandal are not “burning” issues—at least not for public opinion. Both are certainly serious, but they have, in different ways, already been judged. In OPEKEPE, the management of agricultural subsidies is now handled by AADE, and there was no personal financial gain by political figures. In the wiretapping case, from 2022 to today, elections intervened—both national and European—and both were comfortably won by the ruling party. Those deemed responsible resigned at the time, and court cases are still ongoing. Therefore, Androulakis’s pain over his phone being tapped is understandable and respectable, but that is as far as it goes. You don’t win elections with… your pain, nor because you were wronged—especially on an issue that has been dragging on for four years and cannot become a policy platform for a party that claims to be even a credible opposition. So the leader should move on and say something else for a change. Second, “mother of all battles” and big derbies are made by big players and big teams. Yesterday Mitsotakis had a relatively easy day in Parliament; he dropped early his line about the opposition’s toxicity, which set the media tone for the day. And not without reason, because as we also wrote yesterday, they have completely overdone the nonsense, managing on the one hand to wear people down and poison the environment and their political opponents, while at the same time making themselves look ridiculous. This grotesque opposition setup suits only one person: Mitsotakis.

The clashes over the new constituencies
-What was interesting were the institutional interventions announced by K.M. within the framework of constitutional revision and the post-election landscape. I did notice, however, that he avoided being specific about the ideas regarding changes in electoral constituencies or interventions in the preferential voting system. This has, on the one hand, a political logic since it needs to be discussed with the parties at a more neutral time; on the other hand, you should know there is also a serious divergence of views within Maximos Mansion. Especially the non-parliamentary staff believe the changes should be more bold, while those with closer ties to Parliament and MPs argue that elections must be voted on… by MPs themselves, from whom the party demands mobilisation and effort. You can’t have both.

Cabinet and Parliamentary Group
-The coming week has several international obligations for Mitsotakis (Summit in Nicosia, Macron’s visit to Athens, etc.), so a two-week schedule was drawn up yesterday. According to this, the Cabinet will meet on April 29 and on the 30th, on the eve of May Day, the ND Parliamentary Group will convene, where things are expected to get… heated, as MPs are “ready for battle.” Several are already warning that they will not vote to lift the immunity of colleagues in next week’s ballot for the second OPEKEPE case file. For example, an experienced MP said yesterday that citizens’ hearings and communication with services are clearly linked to an MP’s political activity, adding that the vote is personal and party discipline is not an issue. He also acknowledges that the “11” themselves have requested lifting immunity, but you should consider ND leaks as a given.

Makarios–Maximos
-Before yesterday’s parliamentary debate, Lazaridis was forced to issue a somewhat apologetic statement to tone down his interview on Open and try to “recover” impressions, asking that he himself repay amounts that were wrongly paid to him if it turns out he held a position without the required certificates while being paid accordingly. I’m told there was prior communication with a close associate of Mitsotakis, an old friend of his, who “explained the situation” to him. Now, to say the statement improved things would be difficult; the deputy minister is now entering communications quarantine and will only speak on matters under his responsibility—for example, foot-and-mouth disease, for which there is a meeting today at the Ministry of Agriculture with officials from Lesvos. And he will remain in the post as long as he lasts.

Thodorikakos intervention on Thriasio as well
-I was reading reports about the omnibus bill brought by Takis Theodorikakos introducing a “one-stop shop” for investments and sweeping changes in permits, street markets, and commerce, but there are also “fine print” provisions. For example, Article 154 of the bill regulates pending issues at Thriasio Field, where the tender is underway for the creation of a logistics hub that could be linked to the new port of Elefsina, creating an alternative pole to Piraeus. I remind you the project is run by the Goldair–ETVA VIPE consortium with financing from Piraeus Bank and the US DFC. For the Ministry of Development, this is a top-priority project, and Theodorikakos has intervened several times to resolve issues related to the concession contract or the licensing process itself.

Tsipras earlier…
-In other political news, I’m told Tsipras is preparing for earlier timing—“there is no September, we’re going for May–June,” claims a (reliable) source, insisting that “even if Mitsotakis calls elections in 40 days, we will run, even if it’s improvised.”

Dia the fixer
-The lady has been in the force for years, has seen everything and everyone, and sees herself as a Chief. Above generals, Attica police chiefs, GADA chiefs, even the minister. Dia the “fixer,” as they call her in Katehaki, has woken up—or rather over-woken up—and started making arrangements. Not just public relations, but private and very specific dealings as well. In fact, we see her…

The real competition for banks
-The real and most substantial competition in traditional banking today comes from digital banks. A competition that is taking on harsh, international characteristics and in some cases is eroding domestic markets. The most characteristic example is Revolut, which in 2025 posted record profits of $2.3 billion with revenues of $6 billion. It marked the fifth consecutive year of profitability, with customer balances reaching $67.5 billion. In Greece, Revolut increased its individual customers by 31%, business customers by 47%, and deposits by 58%. And nothing is random: yesterday Revolut gave a small demonstration of how it operates and approaches the market. Specifically, it conducted a survey according to which Greek consumers approach spending on personal care products and services more strategically. According to the survey, Greeks avoid impulse purchases, actively plan and save in order to buy such products, invest in their choices despite financial pressure, and do not particularly follow celebrity recommendations. After this survey, Revolut decided to create products and partnerships offering discounts, rewards, and banking services tailored to this consumer behaviour. Based on what we were used to, it was businesses—not consumers—driving banks into partnerships. Now the market is changing, driven by the strategies of digital banks.