-Hello, as expected, Mitsotakis yesterday, taking advantage of the 2026 surplus, delivered a solid package of measures, thoroughly worked out by the economic team, namely Pierrakakis and Petralias, and of course he made a strong impression. In fact, if K.M had let them fix a few… far-fetched things that existed in the taxation of freelancers (e.g. those who are on taxisnet not being subject to imputed income criteria), it would have been even better. I’m told they will look at it later, that is from autumn at the Thessaloniki International Fair. I think the strongest measure of all is the 72 installments because it truly gives you the ability to better settle your debts, although afterwards the interest “eats you up.” In any case, the government’s ability to deliver a strong economic package every six months “gives it breathing room” to tidy up its missteps and mistakes from time to time. Money is always money, just as is the impression Mitsotakis creates that he knows what he’s doing in the basics of governing the country, in the economy and defense.

Poll (before the package)
-Yesterday I wrote to you about some initial scattered figures I had from polls, but today, since I spoke with my source, I can be more specific. So, according to these—and measured before the announcement of yesterday’s favorable measures—ND is losing (or was losing) 1.5 points and PASOK was gaining one, but… The “but” is that informally (since no parties have been officially announced), citizens are now also being asked about Tsipras and Karystianou. I want your attention here: if those who say “I might vote” for Karystianou are counted, little Maria comes second and Alexis (ours) third, close to Nikos A. If those who say “I will definitely vote” are counted, then Alexis comes second, Maria third and Nikos steadily fourth. The ratio in the “definitely will vote” between Tsipras and Karystianou is 70-30 in favor of Alexis. My source told me they will measure again from today after the measures to see at Maximos what effect the money has…

What the focus groups show
-The same source of mine who read the focus groups (qualitative research) that the government received before getting the quantitative data running these days explained some things to me. They told me that within the political audience there is a group, mainly citizens who have voted ND but have now drifted away, who are watching the government’s activity, have not taken a final “divorce” from ND and are particularly interested in economic measures and their livelihood. This perhaps explains Mitsotakis’ insistence on taking measures that are horizontal but now especially concern the middle class, families with children and pensioners, who are generally “good” audiences for ND. Obviously, my source said, these citizens are also affected by scandal talk and the general atmosphere, but they believe the government must overcome it and find solutions to everyday issues.

Kovessi, ministers
-Yesterday Kovessi met with the three ministers responsible for matters related to her work, Floridis, Chrysochoidis and Pierrakakis; to the latter she even brought some chocolates—I didn’t learn whether she brought any to the other two. The most interesting discussion was probably, due to the subject matter, with Floridis, who told her outright that Mitsotakis “does not understand the leaks to the press about ministers as well as the piecemeal sending of case files.” In plain Greek, Floridis told her—and shortly after Chrysochoidis too—that with their tactics the prosecutors are intervening in the country’s political life. When for six months you leak information about politicians and “slice up” case files into portions of bad publicity, what else are you doing, really? Now what did Kovessi reply? We learned that she promised to speed things up and wrap up the pending cases concerning OPEKEPE, but don’t take it as a given, because as is known, a prosecutor never quite gives you their hand.

The meeting with Pierrakakis at AADE
-Many of those who saw the photos from yesterday’s meeting between Kyriakos Pierrakakis and Laura Kovessi were puzzled that it did not take place at the Ministry of Finance. However, yesterday’s press conference and the… necessary logistics led to the decision for the “meeting” with the European Prosecutor to be set at AADE offices. Let’s not forget that Giorgos Pitsilis’ “headquarters” had also been chosen for Kovessi’s previous visit. As for the substance of the meeting, it focused on customs, whose upgrade Pierrakakis described as a “success story.” I also learn that the Ministry of Finance team had prepared a very detailed presentation, which left Kovessi and her associates fully satisfied.

Popi and the other two prosecutors remain
-As for whether Popi Papandreou and the other two prosecutors—whose term renewal was requested by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office from the Supreme Judicial Council—will remain in their positions, the answer is yes, they will remain. I’m telling you this reliably.

Lifting of immunity: the storm that became calm seas
-There was a lot of talk about the vote on lifting the immunity of the “13” ND MPs in Parliament and in the end the storm turned into complete calm, as the liftings passed by an overwhelming majority. Some were absent, some had reservations, one voted against all of them, and in the end everyone will go have coffee with the prosecutor to see what happens. Even Voridis, who had expressed strong legal reservations, bit the bullet and voted in favor, putting forward the political reasoning that the individuals under investigation themselves requested the lifting of their immunity. Of course, there will be a discussion on the matter in ND’s Parliamentary Group, which is theoretically to take place next Thursday, but let’s see…

The unruly Stelios and the absent-minded Miltos
-In yesterday’s vote ND recorded three abstentions. One was Petsas, who has started taking sharp stances on every issue, something like the leader of the unruly. On the Makarios issue it worked for him, on the MPs issue it didn’t. Another was the Messenia MP Miltos Chrysomallis, who is generally missing in action and… drifting away, following the example of his political mentor and close friend Antonis Samaras, who also did not appear to vote. Also, among those under investigation, Mitarakis did not vote, saying to an interlocutor that he finds it improper to vote on a case file that mentions him.

The Greek-French declaration on nuclear matters
-I wrote to you yesterday in detail about Macron’s program in Athens; now let me give you some news about the agreements to be signed on Saturday. I’m told that Development Minister Takis Theodorikakos will sign a declaration of intent with the French Minister of Economy and Industry for cooperation between the two sides in the field of nuclear technology. It will take place on Saturday at noon during a bilateral meeting and will essentially follow the Prime Minister’s participation in the Paris summit on nuclear energy last March. This declaration will concern establishing cooperation between the two countries in nuclear technology, with emphasis on research and innovation, nuclear safety, and education!

Chatzidakis–Korman

-Since yesterday, the Delphi Forum has kicked off with many international presences; for example, Mitsotakis discussed with the President of the European Council Antonio Costa, who is a friend, and we even lent him the prime ministerial aircraft the other day so he could go on a tour of Gulf countries. Today, the baton in international discussions is taken up by Deputy Prime Minister Chatzidakis, who is speaking with OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann on the subject of the economy’s growth model. Therefore, Chatzidakis’ intervention will not be just a political statement. It will mainly be a strategic statement for Greece in 2030 that will outline the ND narrative for the next four years. And in this context, as I understand it, news will emerge.

No to new taxation of refineries
-In the plan to address the energy crisis after the war with Iran (accelerateEU) presented yesterday by the EU, governments of member states are given the option to impose an extraordinary tax on refinery windfall profits. From the Greek side, this is not an issue, as extraordinary taxation of refineries was imposed last year and the year before as well. Full stop.

Controlled entry to the student dormitory of the University of Athens
-Something is changing at the student dormitory of the University of Athens. Exactly four months after the occupation was cleared last December, a controlled entry system has now been introduced! It sounds unbelievable, but yesterday, for the first time, the system operated, allowing entry only with an electronic card for those entitled to live in the dormitory. The initiative belongs to INEDIVIM president Anna Rokofyllou and rector Gerasimos Siasos, who implemented a request from the majority of residents who want to feel safe and avoid uncontrolled entry of unrelated individuals into the university dormitory. The next step is the introduction of controlled entry measures at the AUTH dormitories and the rest of the INEDIVIM-managed residences across the country.

G. Stournaras on RRF funds
-Journalist Christian Schubert, Italy correspondent of Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, during an interview at the Delphi Forum asked Bank of Greece Governor Yannis Stournaras whether RRF funds were used properly, also referring to the OPEKEPE case. The central banker defended the progress made by Southern Europe thanks to the Recovery Fund and put an end to scandal speculation, saying: “Let justice do its job.” The governor recalled the Novartis years, when he himself was targeted as a defendant in the scandal, while in the end the accusations fell on the accusers.

The Supreme Court decision
-You probably remember the decision issued on 5/2/26 by majority (35–12) by the Supreme Court regarding the calculation of interest on Katrougalos Law loans, a decision that vindicated borrowers. The entire market was waiting (and still is waiting) for the full text of the ruling in order to have a precise picture of the financial impact. Almost three months have passed and the decision is still being finalized in writing. According to information, the Ministry of Finance has for some time assigned an auditing firm—said to be KPMG—to examine the case and determine which securitisations will be affected. Specifically, it has been tasked with examining portfolio by portfolio whether there will be losses and how many, in relation to the €1.1 billion ceiling. (It is recalled that KPMG had examined for servicers the potential damage from the decision on Hercules guarantees and estimated it at €1.1 billion.) The same firm has also taken on the role of an informal monitoring trustee, overseeing whether everything is being carried out according to business plans and contracts, while checking securitisation performance and identifying possible deviations. Meanwhile, market information suggests that most securitisations are off schedule, the situation with auctions is well known, and as shown by listed mezzanine securities, payments are repeatedly being missed or postponed.

Eft. Vasilakis: We have fuel sufficiency for three to four months
-Evtychis Vasilakis, head of Aegean, did not only speak about the, as he described it, shocking fuel cost affecting ticket prices, demand, tourism flows and overall airline operations at the company’s general meeting yesterday. He also outlined Aegean’s trajectory, strategy, and what shareholders should expect. First, he noted that in its 27 years of operation, the company has gained significant crisis-management experience, sending the message that, supported among other things by its strong capital base (net cash of €290 million at the end of 2025) and modern fleet, it will successfully manage this demanding international period as well. He also stressed that Aegean is expecting new aircraft, while from the summer the impact of grounded aircraft due to the known P&W engine issue will begin to ease, noting that “we are at the tail end of the problem.” Furthermore, he referred to shareholder returns, noting that over the past three years the company has distributed a total of €2.45 per share in dividends. For the 2025 fiscal year, the company will distribute a dividend of €0.90 per share, corresponding to a yield of just under 7%. Regarding fuel adequacy, Vasilakis stressed that, according to communication with main suppliers Helleniq Energy and Motor Oil, no supply issue is foreseen for the next three to four months. Finally, he announced significant organisational changes within Aegean, emphasising the need for a younger generation to play a more decisive role over the next 10–15 years, and to prove that the company can renew itself through the evolution of its people. Closing the AGM, he wished “as good a year as possible next year…”

Intervention by Angelikousis, Tsakos, Chatzipateras at the IMO on the green transition
-The new intervention to the International Maritime Organization (IMO) is not just another technical disagreement about the fuel of the future. It is a signal of power. When names such as Maria Angelikousis, the Tsakos group, Overseas Shipholding Group, DHT Holdings, Dorian LPG of John and Alex Chatzipateras, and Bahri sign an open letter, the message is not diplomatic but economic. And it becomes even heavier when key flags such as Liberia, Panama and the Marshall Islands align with them, as well as classification societies like Italy’s RINA and France’s Bureau Veritas. The central message is simple: major shipping players do not question the need for decarbonisation, but rather who will pay, when, and under what terms. And above all, they refuse to invest billions of dollars in a framework that may change midway. Their insistence on LNG as a marine fuel is a defence of already committed investments and strategic choices. In other words, the alliance is asking for time and flexibility so that capital and fleets do not end up out of the game. What is really at stake is not only the fuel, but the control of the transition. If the IMO imposes a strict, unified framework, it limits shipowners’ room for manoeuvre. If it backs down, it gives the industry space to set the pace itself. And here the EU comes in as a counterbalance, reminding that if the global agreement is weakened, regional rules will remain, leading to regulatory fragmentation that will increase operating costs and create uncertainty.