Reports suggest that Vangelis Marinakis, Dimitris Melissanidis, and Ivan Savvidis are coordinating a new, more aggressive stance toward the government, marking a significant shift in the country's media and political landscape.
The rapprochement follows a series of high-level meetings, including a notable summit held at a private tower in Piraeus, which has set the stage for a coordinated wave of "harsh criticism" from several major news outlets.
A 'gentlemen's agreement' in media
At the heart of this new alignment is a strategic restructuring of the Greek media market, designed to challenge the current dominance of the government's narrative.
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Content Sharing: Under a new agreement, the Savvidis-owned OPEN TV is expected to acquire major assets from the extensive film library of Marinakis’s Mega Channel, a move intended to bolster audience ratings.
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The 'Ice' Project: In a surprise tactical move, the relaunch of the historic Eleftherotypia newspaper has reportedly been put on hold to ensure the continued stability of Efimerida ton Syntakton.
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Editorial Shifts: All three moguls have reportedly agreed to ramp up their editorial pressure on the Maximos Mansion, signaling an end to the relatively stable relations previously enjoyed by the administration.
Rivalries on hold
For years, the relationship between these three men—who dominate not only the shipping and construction sectors but also the country’s top football clubs—has been defined by fierce competition.
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The Piraeus Summit: The meeting between Marinakis and Melissanidis in Piraeus is being viewed by insiders as a "pivot point," where shared grievances against government policy outweighed long-standing personal and professional rivalries.
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Savvidis’s Distance: While Ivan Savvidis is said to be maintaining a lower public profile than his counterparts, sources indicate he is equally committed to distancing his business interests from the Mitsotakis administration.
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Political Fallout: Analysts suggest that this "united front" could present the most significant challenge to the government’s influence since its reelection, as the country’s most influential businessmen align their media assets against the state.
Ultimately, the Prime Minister's policies seem to have provided the one thing that years of mediation could not: a common cause for Greece’s most powerful shipowners and media magnates.
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