-Greetings! Today, I want to delve into a rather intriguing case involving an attempted bribery of a high-ranking judge. Before I go into the specifics, it’s important to note that this judge, targeted by the notorious “chief wiretapper” Maurikis, is a prominent and relatively young figure in the judiciary—someone many consider to have a bright future ahead.
The situation centers around a legal dispute between a private individual (the name is familiar, but I haven’t confirmed the identity yet, so I’ll refrain from mentioning it) and the State concerning the integration of 160 stremmas (approximately 40 acres) into the urban plan in Papagou—a matter that clearly involves the legalization of a highly valuable plot.
Although I don’t possess all the case details, I do know it originated at the first-instance trial level. Maurikis informed the Supreme Court judge, presenting a letter with details, claiming the plot’s worth at around €25 million and that he had been promised a bribe of approximately €1 million, implicitly suggesting a portion would go to the judge. This prompted the judge’s swift decision to report him for the attempt.
Two Scenarios…
Now, both the government and the Supreme Court are exploring two potential scenarios pertaining to this unprecedented event.
The first scenario is the “innocent” one: that the notorious, dubious character Maurikis approached the judge, completely oblivious to the gravity of his actions, perhaps just looking to make a quick buck.
The second scenario is far more disconcerting—suggesting that certain shady actors may be attempting to undermine and sabotage the career of an emerging talent in the judiciary, especially with impending judicial elections on the horizon.
Naturally, the second “dark scenario” is much more troubling than the more “traditional” first one. More details will emerge soon…
Is Samaras Following in Papandreou’s Footsteps?
With Mitsotakis away (returning today), the warm weather, and the upcoming basketball Final Four dominating discussions, political circles are not in the mood for serious dialogue.
This has led to renewed speculation regarding a Samaras party, which I mentioned on Monday.
Some insiders are even claiming that the party’s name has already been “finalized.” Coincidentally, Samaras’s birthday is this Friday—he turns 74.
However, someone close to M.M.’s broader circle—who’s been reviewing polling figures—remarked sharply: “A Samaras party is likely to end up just like Papandreou’s party.” For those unaware, the memorable “Movement of Democracy” failed to secure a place in Parliament back in January 2015.
Adonis’s Briefing
K.M., returning from the U.S., has a meeting scheduled on Aristotelous Street to get updated by Adonis and health ministry leaders on various unresolved matters.
Topics for discussion include hospital renovations, the ER “bracelets,” pharmaceutical expenditures, and digital reform—though don’t expect any groundbreaking updates from today’s meeting.
Plenary Session in Chios
Six deputy ministers, general secretaries, and officials from ND were in Chios yesterday. The attendees included Thanasis Kontogeorgis, Anna Karamanli, Christos Kellas, Marios Themistocleous, Nikos Tsafos, and Nikos Tahiaos, alongside ND’s general director Yiannis Smyrlis, Mitsotakis’s office director Stelios Kontadakis, and advisor Thanasis Nezis.
They discussed ongoing projects on the island and later addressed a party event.
Also present was local MP Notis Mitarakis, who is having difficulty assembling a candidate list for the island.
The Commissioner’s Report
Skerstos and Marinakis exited the office of European Commissioner for Justice McGrath with positive comments regarding Greece.
As I mentioned yesterday, they showcased Greece’s initiatives concerning the rule of law and press freedom, engaging in a cordial dialogue with the Irish Commissioner.
I hear that McGrath did not issue any new recommendations, and while Greece must implement some EU directives, these are fewer than in many other nations.
Accordingly, the Commission’s report due this summer is not anticipated to be harsh on Greece.
Citizen Ratings of Public Services
There has been significant citizen participation in the new app launched by the Ministries of Interior and Digital Governance for assessing the quality of state, municipal, and regional services.
Reports indicate that agencies that have digitized their operations and utilize gov.gr are receiving excellent ratings—10 out of 10 from citizens.
In contrast, agencies still relying on in-person services have faced substantial criticism.
The final data should provide beneficial insights for the government’s future actions.
However, the real challenge will arise when citizens are asked to evaluate the services offered by public schools for their children.
Anyone with school-aged kids knows that for a real shot at university entrance exams, substantial spending on private tutoring and cram schools is often necessary.
Hydra and Spetses Update
Yesterday, a teleconference concerning unauthorized vehicles operating in Hydra took place, attended by Mendoni, Skertsos, Koutnatzis, Hardalias, and Mayor Koukoudakis.
The mayor expressed strong dissatisfaction regarding his lack of authority and enforcement measures; all ministers clarified that the legal framework is in place and fully explained (especially as of May 8 with a document from the Ministry of Culture).
The response was: “You’re on the ground, you understand the local situation, and we’re ready to assist if needed.”
Additionally, the government is launching a digital platform to list all legally operating vehicles on the island (including those with temporary construction permits) so that anyone can easily identify what is lawful.
There will also be a hotline for reporting illegal vehicles, connected to local police and the port authority, allowing citizens to report any unlawful activities they observe on the island.
Moral of the story: sometimes “bad press” can lead to action…
The Spetses mayor also requested stricter regulations to prevent cars and motorbikes from proliferating everywhere (a situation that could’ve easily occurred in Hydra in a few years).
What wasn’t discussed—and what the Spetses mayor also neglected to mention—was the issue of the illegal swimming pools that surfaced during the incident involving Kasselakis’s infamous garden tub!
Piraeus Bank and Printec Deal Nearing Completion
Shifting to business news, here’s a positive update.
The agreement between Piraeus Bank and Printec is close to being finalized—transferring about 850 to 900 of the bank’s ATMs to Printec.
Piraeus currently operates around 1,500 ATMs in total.
The ones not located at bank branches, especially those in areas without an established network where ATMs are essential (such as remote or border locations), will be sold to Printec.
While the deal may not yield immediate financial benefits for the bank, it will offer indirect advantages by significantly reducing maintenance, cash transport, and liquidity expenses associated with the ATMs—while ensuring a consistent income stream for Piraeus.
Capital Market Commission Intervenes Over Stock Exchange Site Issues
Now, transitioning from the positive, back to some challenges.
Yesterday began poorly for Yiannos Kontopoulos.
On Monday, the Athens Stock Exchange’s official website experienced issues, displaying unrelated content.
On Tuesday, the Chair of the Capital Market Commission, V. Lazarakou, requested an official communication to the ASE for clarification on the matter and to directly connect with the Exchange to determine if it was merely a technical glitch and understand the reasoning behind it.
Trouble Brewing for ASE President
However, the troubles didn’t start yesterday for Giannos Kontopoulos, as he’s currently facing a challenging time as President of the Athens Stock Exchange and CEO of Hellenic Exchanges (ATHEX). Reports indicate that the countdown to his exit is underway. Tensions are rising within the ATHEX board, with some members criticizing him for failing to effectively promote ATHEX’s stock prospects. In response to this criticism, he’s seeking to replace some board members, though their terms extend to May 2026. The dynamics within the ATHEX board remain tense, given the differing categories of employees and salaries (those he hired and existing staff).
Additionally, a significant factor to consider is that when he took over, a proposal was on the table from the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to acquire ATHEX and the Cyprus Stock Exchange (CSE), a move that would have enabled Israeli companies to gain European market access, focusing on food and technology. He did not take swift action on this opportunity. Shortly thereafter, war broke out, derailing the plans.
Another proposal from Euronext also ended up falling through after some discussion, as did an offer from the Swiss Stock Exchange.
All of these events have impacted his reputation, and renewing his term in May 2026 now seems uncertain, with the potential for developments occurring even sooner since the situation remains volatile. Yet, it’s plausible he might manage to turn things around; after all, the future is unpredictable.
Regardless of the outcome, the Dark Room isn’t alarmed, as (I don’t care about any of you) Giannos Kontopoulos holds an open-ended contract, allowing him to negotiate a substantial severance package.
Upcoming Meeting with Mytilineos
-Now for a highly anticipated meeting set to take place in the coming days—Environment and Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou is preparing to welcome Evangelos Mytilineos. It’s safe to assume their discussion will extend beyond polite exchanges.
Mytilineos is not known for simple courtesy calls at ministries. Armed with significant responsibilities—from energy diplomacy to metallurgy and the green agenda—he’s arriving with a wide-ranging agenda.
The discussion will likely encompass current issues as well as future strategic moves by his group, which is diversifying into numerous sectors.
Evangelos Mytilineos is strategically positioned across numerous fields: from significant international energy contracts and becoming the largest private electricity retailer to entering the London Stock Exchange and maintaining a strong presence in critical metals, all while making notable strides in renewable energy initiatives globally.
His industrial sector continues to thrive, defying the trend of deindustrialization impacting Europe.
Challenges at National Securities
Clients of National Securities are experiencing difficulties. Last Monday, the bank assumed control of custody services for the brokerage’s clients—including those with margin accounts. To facilitate this, they established individual accounts for each client, moving away from the previous omnibus account system.
While this may have appeared beneficial, the execution left much to be desired, despite an eight-month transition period.
Consequently, daily mismatches in balances are arising, and the brokerage staff are working tirelessly to reconcile these discrepancies before day’s end.
Additionally, they’ve adopted the bank’s Wealth system—a robust tool designed for financial transactions—resulting in further complications.
In short, the staff are operating under immense pressure without sufficient time to monitor the market.
Moreover, clients now require ebanking access to view their assets and available funds; if they don’t have it, an appointment at the bank is necessary to complete the paperwork.
When will the system stabilize? Experts predict at least another month of challenges.
Cosco Negotiations Yielding Modest Gains
As for Cosco, which manages piers 2 and 3 at the Port of Piraeus, negotiations with employees concerning the new collective agreement have been ongoing for the past ten days. Talks have been intense, marked by work stoppages by the staff.
However, according to sources, the situation seems to be stabilizing, as management is leaning towards granting 18–19% raises over a three-year period.
Stock Exchange Update: Different Times, Different Dynamics
Looking back, on April 23, 2010, the General Index of the Athens Stock Exchange peaked at 1,821 points, with total market capitalization not exceeding €71.8 billion.
Today, with the General Index at 1,828 points, the market capitalization for listed companies has surged past €126 billion.
The last time the ASE’s market cap reached this figure was on August 8, 2008, when the General Index stood at 3,304 points.
Back then, around 270 companies were listed on the Athens Stock Exchange—120 more than the current count of approximately 150 (including companies with tradable bonds and those listed on the Alternative Market).
In essence, the actual market condition today is undoubtedly more favorable than what the updated General Index may indicate…
Feel free to ask me anything
Discover related questions
