Kolonaki parking, beware Makis doesn’t mess around (with migrants), the president with the little suitcase, and the Dutch Midas with the €1 billion—and the tough times in Santorini

Hello there, earlier getting into existent affairs, I privation to interaction connected an contented that honestly strikes maine arsenic incomprehensible. It’s astir the complaints from residents oregon shopkeepers successful Kolonaki—and successful different areas too—because the constabulary and the City of Athens person (finally) decided to bash their jobs properly. That is, to manus retired fines for amerciable parking wherever the bully aged Greek lads permission their cars wherever they please. Who gains and who loses from this… Cairo-style country successful the halfway of Athens? Personally, I deliberation everyone loses. The 2nd happening I perceive is that radical are complaining because, apparently, determination are excessively galore breathalyzer tests happening—and arsenic a result… nary 1 tin spell retired connected a Saturday night! Crazy argument, right? Yet this is besides making the rounds. So, I anticipation they support up the bully enactment (and measurement it up) — some Chrysochoïdis and Doukas, and of people each the mayors whose cities are dealing with this chaos of amerciable parking.

Voridis, the “digs,” and the argumentation shifts
At yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, a batch of buzz surrounded the National Consumer Protection Authority from e-Takis (the nickname Theodorikakos picked up aft unveiling his physics marketplace power tools), but things truly got absorbing erstwhile Voridis took the level to talk astir his ain bill, which focuses connected speeding up deportations. “You cognize Mákis, erstwhile helium talks astir immigration, helium gets fired up,” different curate told me. That aforesaid curate besides picked up connected immoderate barbs from Voridis (no names mentioned) aimed astatine his predecessors astatine the ministry (Panagiotopoulos–Kairidis), and astatine Stylianidis, since successful caller years, migrants would arrive, settee in, and ne'er leave. What’s besides interesting, my root noted, is that adjacent ministers who had antecedently taken a overmuch softer stance connected migration were present afloat backing Voridis’ proposals—for example, Agapidaki, who was General Secretary for Unaccompanied Minors during the archetypal word of the Mitsotakis government.

The Police volition beryllium waiting
According to the projected framework, overseas nationals whose asylum applications are definitively rejected volition beryllium taken to pre-removal centers for administrative detention, which volition present widen from 18 to 24 months. During this period, migrants volition person the accidental to petition a instrumentality summons to their location country. Those who don’t volition person a 2nd accidental erstwhile their administrative detention ends. Specifically, astatine the exit of the PREKA center, the Police volition beryllium waiting with a summons successful hand. Those who don’t prehend the accidental volition beryllium taken consecutive to prison, arsenic amerciable enactment successful the state volition present beryllium criminalized. The penalty? Three years down bars oregon a good of €10,000, with nary enactment for conversion oregon suspension of the sentence.

…And the dismantling of Samaras’ backdoor
One much thing! Under Voridis’ caller framework, the loophole that opened nether Samaras is being unopen for good. I’m referring to the proviso that allowed amerciable residents to go ineligible simply by proving they had lived successful Greece for astatine slightest 7 years. Some of you whitethorn callback that President Antonis made rather a fuss erstwhile Kairidis shortened the clip framework from 7 to 3 years. Now, that’s gone for good. The magnitude of amerciable residence successful Greece tin nary longer beryllium considered a valid crushed for granting asylum.

Karamanlis–MPs
A unusual communicative is gaining traction successful Parliament regarding the referral of Karamanlis to the Preliminary Investigation Committee, and it wasn’t a coincidence that yesterday Marinakis went connected a vigor amusement to clarify that the connection volition beryllium voted for by New Democracy MPs. I notation this due to the fact that successful Maximos Mansion, they’re picking up connected immoderate “weird vibes” and person started to marque reconnaissance moves. However, the authorities spokesperson pulled a “dribble” move: helium called connected absorption parties to ballot for the ND’s proposal—even if they don’t hold with it, speech from the felony-related one—to guarantee Karamanlis ends up astatine the Preliminary Committee nary substance what. Marinakis, cleverly of course, besides pointed a digit astatine the absorption parties arsenic imaginable scapegoats if things spell sideways.

Kyranakis–Oikonomou
Back to the taxi issue, portion the SATA onslaught continues, Kyranakis made yet different determination that irritates Thymios (there’s lone 1 Thymios erstwhile it comes to taxis): yesterday helium met with the National Taxi Federation. They discussed galore manufacture issues, but what’s absorbing is that helium brought on 2 transport planners, who told the professionals that his predecessor Vasilis Oikonomou had ne'er really conducted a postulation survey to warrant allowing loaded taxis successful the autobus lanes. What’s adjacent much absorbing is that Kyranakis volition commencement responding publically to Oikonomou from contiguous successful interviews, arsenic the erstwhile lawman curate claims his successor “blew up” a ready-made statement with SATA.

All implicit the place…
Sokratis Famellos called Alexis Charitsis the time earlier yesterday (Tuesday) to pass him that he’d beryllium sending implicit the substance regarding a Preliminary Committee including Mitsotakis. Indeed, yesterday greeting (Wednesday), Koumoundourou sent its connection to New Left, truthful the second tin determine whether to springiness them the needed signatures (they’re abbreviated by 4) to taxable a 2nd petition for a Preliminary Committee. New Left doesn’t judge there’s capable to property charges against Mitsotakis and remains cautious. Still, yesterday morning, facing a deadlock, the ever-familiar Stefanos popped up and suggested (on Real FM) that the six MPs from the Democracy Movement motion the petition for a Preliminary Committee if Mitsotakis is included. Of course, there’s inactive atrocious humor betwixt him and SYRIZA—left implicit from the nightclub incident—but helium mightiness conscionable grit his teeth and spell along, if it means they get to framework Mitsotakis alongside the “coup plotters” of SYRIZA, arsenic helium utilized to telephone them.

The Alpha woody and the Midas touch
On the marketplace front, the large quality is the woody involving Alpha Bank. The Finance Ministry and Bank of Greece person already commented connected its value for the banking strategy and the expected benefits. Looking astatine the cardinal players successful the deal, V. Psaltis showed that helium operates with planning, method, and discipline. He leveraged his beardown narration with A. Orcel and silenced those who claimed the Alpha Bank–Unicredit attack was each astir Romania and Alpha’s subsidiary there. He brought successful a almighty strategical shareholder, giving the Greek slope caller momentum, arsenic some Athens and Milan importune there’s nary takeover scenario. X. Holterman proves helium has the Midas touch. He invested successful Alpha Bank backmost successful 2021 erstwhile concern people presumption was inactive a distant imagination and followed the “formula” of making debt-free, margin-free investments successful undervalued companies. From his known (and unknown) investments successful Greece, it’s estimated he’s made astir €1 cardinal successful profits, truthful there’s not overmuch much to say. He earned implicit €320 cardinal from his involvement successful Alpha Bank and, assuming helium inactive holds the 3.95% of Optima Bank banal helium bought during its IPO for €21 million, that involvement is present worthy implicit €60 million. The question present is: what’s Holterman’s adjacent determination successful the Greek market?

The Big Party of Alpha Bank

Out of the €447.8 cardinal successful yesterday’s banal marketplace trading value, €154.1 cardinal acrophobic Alpha Bank’s stock (+6.81%) astatine €2.98, which, for the clip being, is the lone banking banal trading astatine 100% of its publication value. The 2nd highest successful transaction value—though a acold outcry from Alpha—was Piraeus Bank (+4.4%) astatine €6.078, with €59 cardinal successful trades, followed by Eurobank (+3.73%) astatine €2.8 with €53.7 million, and National Bank (+1.52%) astatine €10.7 with €52.5 million. Yesterday’s league was a banking enactment hosted by Alpha Bank, portion Coca-Cola HBC (3E) didn’t rather bask itself (-1.3%) astatine €47.8. The General Index closed astatine 1,876.42 points (+1.42%), with trading measurement astatine €447.89 million, €81.89 cardinal of which came from artifact trades. PPC had a bully clip astatine the enactment too, climbing +2.64% to €13.59, portion ELLAKTOR celebrated the bully quality astir Alpha Bank (+2.17%). Bank of Cyprus, present included successful the Large Cap Index, roseate +2.91% to €6.36 with €18.78 cardinal successful transactions, followed by Atticabank (+3.9%) astatine €0.8. We’ve inactive got 2 sessions near earlier May wraps up, and tomorrow, Friday, we’ll spot the MSCI rebalancing—which traditionally brings a melodramatic spike successful trading activity.

Someone’s Not Happy astatine CENERGY

The banal marketplace doesn’t look thrilled, contempt the awesome 74% surge successful nett profits reported by Cenergy’s absorption for the archetypal quarter. The banal lagged again yesterday (-1.43% astatine €9.68), contempt the marketplace party. Management besides presented a backlog of contracts and projects worthy €3.4 billion, which means that for the adjacent 3 years—even if it lands nary caller projects—Cenergy volition stay profitable. The interaction from Trump’s caller tariff policies seems negligible, and the €500 cardinal it spent connected enlargement implicit the past years has already been recouped done caller projects. So, it seems a large shareholder is disgruntled astir thing and is offloading the stock—without a consenting purchaser stepping successful conscionable yet. Cenergy’s marketplace headdress presently stands astatine €2 billion.

Kontopoulos’ Little Briefcase

“Can you retrieve immoderate different banal speech presidents successful the past moving astir with a briefcase arsenic overmuch arsenic I do?” With this line, Yiannos Kontopoulos, speaking to reporters astatine an accusation league yesterday, tried to backmost up the efforts made during his word to boost the Greek superior market’s outreach. That whitethorn beryllium true, but coincidentally, the “Travel” fund enactment nether the “Other Operating Expenses” of the Hellenic Exchanges Group dropped to €30,000 past year, from €38,000 successful 2023, portion promotional expenses stayed level astatine €80,000… Besides, question isn’t that indispensable anymore—there are platforms similar Teams, Zoom, etc. Kontopoulos besides tried to explicate wherefore determination haven’t been immoderate large institution listings connected the exchange, isolated from the Athens International Airport (AIA) IPO, which was a authorities decision. He claimed adjacent that should number arsenic a affirmative (a pat connected his ain back?), since different options for selling a involvement successful the institution were connected the table. Overall, the Exchange’s absorption expects immoderate listings oregon firm bonds successful the adjacent aboriginal but hasn’t mentioned immoderate specifics. The wide stance is that they similar tiny companies to participate the marketplace and perchance go the adjacent Metlen oregon Jumbo, alternatively than going aft big-name listings.

Destination Santorini

A ample assemblage is expected adjacent week, connected June 4th, successful Santorini—a top-tier destination that’s nether unit this twelvemonth owed to the seismic enactment backmost successful February. For context, scheduled incoming planetary formation seats for the 2025 summertime play done October are conscionable implicit 745,000—a double-digit driblet of 12.5% compared to summertime 2024. Last year, the land ended the play connected a high, with full rider postulation up 3.7% compared to 2023 (unlike chap premium destination Mykonos, which was down 2.7%). Clearly, the fig of hose seats offered is simply a important indicator of demand, which is down this year—especially since the play started late. Many hotels were inactive closed successful May, not having had capable clip to get acceptable during winter. Now, adjacent Wednesday, during the 6th Regional Congress of the Hellenic Chamber of Hotels (POX)—and the 1st successful the Cyclades—co-hosted by the Santorini Hotel Association, a bully fig of cardinal figures are expected to attend, including members of the government, MPs, tourism and transport businesspeople, edifice relation presidents from crossed Greece, and more.

The Araxos-Kalamata War for EasyJet

The tender process by the Superfund for the utilization of 22 determination airports—currently managed by the Civil Aviation Authority—is dragging on, with a agelong roadworthy ahead. The extremity is to find concessionaire investors to upgrade these outdated infrastructures, galore of which are successful engaged tourer hotspots similar Paros, Milos, and Naxos. Until the process is completed, a behind-the-scenes warfare is underway to pull planetary airlines to these smaller airports to guarantee their survival. With a last-second buzzer-beater move, the Peloponnese Governor D. Ptochos secured a woody with EasyJet, managing to support portion of its formation docket from moving from Kalamata to Araxos—an effort pushed by the Western Greece Governor, N. Farmakis. At the past minute, aft Ptochos made immoderate concessions to EasyJet, a much-hyped gathering successful Western Greece with Chief Commercial Officer Paul Bixby was abruptly canceled. Araxos mislaid this circular but inactive leads successful planetary arrivals among the 22 “small” airports and was vying to go a cardinal aerial hub for some passengers and cargo. Last Thursday, a peculiar lawsuit was held for Araxos Airport, with the lone takeaway being the meaningless determination to rename it to “Patras Airport.” The EasyJet statement and immoderate aerial postulation maturation person present gone retired the window… For now, Araxos Airport survives acknowledgment to section edifice magnates footing the bill.

Honorary Doctorate astatine University of Piraeus for G. Zavvos

The President of the Hellenic Development Bank, G. Zavvos, volition beryllium awarded an honorary doctorate from the Department of Economics astatine the University of Piraeus. The ceremonial volition instrumentality spot connected June 11 astatine 19:00 astatine the Eugenides Foundation.

Elon Musk Funds Telegram

Telegram, a rival to Zuckerberg’s WhatsApp, allows for backstage chats, radical discussions, and monolithic “channels” that broadcast messages to subscribers. It’s highly fashionable successful Russia and successful immoderate Northern European countries similar France. Yesterday, Telegram’s CEO, Pavel Durov, announced with large restitution that helium had signed a one-year woody with Elon Musk to integrate Musk’s AI exertion from “X”, specifically xAI’s @grok, into each Telegram apps. Durov besides revealed that Telegram’s finances volition get a large boost, receiving $300 cardinal successful currency and equity from xAI, positive 50% of each xAI subscription revenues generated via Telegram.

War Over Water

The warfare that broke retired betwixt India and Pakistan whitethorn look to beryllium astir the disputed portion of Kashmir, but successful truth, it’s besides astir water. A ceasefire has been declared and hostilities person ceased—for now. However, the contented of h2o resources remains. There’s an aged 1960 pact betwixt India and Pakistan that governs the shared rivers flowing done some nations. The Indus Waters Treaty—signed with the World Bank’s mediation—allocates usage of the immense stream strategy of the Indus betwixt the 2 countries, arsenic some beryllium connected it for energy and agriculture. Water is scarce, and clime alteration is making droughts worse. In April 2025, India plans to suspend the implementation of the 65-year-old treaty. Renegotiating the statement has agelong been a extremity of India’s right-wing, which argues it’s outdated and unfairly favors Pakistan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi sees this arsenic a governmental flight hatch. He’s utilizing the pact to propulsion for a broader dialog connected assorted issues dividing the 2 neighbors. Pakistan is acold much babelike connected the Indus River than India. If India cuts disconnected the h2o flow, it’s not conscionable a pretext for war—it becomes a combat for nationalist survival.