Greek government spokesperson rebukes former PM Samaras for attacking New Democracy on referendum anniversary
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis responded to former prime minister Antonis Samaras's social media videos criticizing the ruling New Democracy party, on the 11th anniversary of the 2015 referendum.
Samaras's videos
On July 5, 2026, the 11th anniversary of Greece's 2015 bailout referendum, former prime minister and ex-New Democracy leader Antonis Samaras posted videos on social media attacking the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis and party veteran Dora Bakoyannis. Samaras claimed he had warned about government choices on national issues, the economy, same-sex marriage, and the cost of living, and said he was not responsible for any potential loss of the party's parliamentary majority. The videos also touched on his expulsion from New Democracy.
Marinakis's response
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, in an interview with Blue Sky, expressed surprise that Samaras chose to attack the party rather than commemorate the referendum.
When I saw that Mr. Samaras had posted some videos, given the date, July 5, 11 years after the divisive referendum, and given that he was then president of New Democracy, I thought he would make a video about these days, because it is good that we never forget. He chose to make a video against the party.
He declined to enter a personal confrontation, stating that the government's duty is to implement policies for the present and future, improve citizens' lives, and correct mistakes, not engage in recriminations based on a personal agenda.
The Dokos case
Marinakis also addressed the case of National Security Advisor Thanos Dokos, who was recently targeted by Russian pranksters. He said it was striking that opposition parties adopted claims from Russian sources instead of trusting the Greek official's explanations. No information leak that endangered national security occurred, he said, and the incident highlighted the need to further strengthen cybersecurity mechanisms. He described it as a hybrid threat that has victimized even foreign leaders, not just officials of Dokos's rank.
It is a very serious discussion, we must have it and continuously strengthen the filters, but not in terms of petty political confrontation.
Thessaloniki attack
On the murder attack in Thessaloniki, Marinakis called it a great tragedy and expressed confidence in the Hellenic Police and the justice system to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice.
