New Democracy MP Dora Bakogianni commented on current political affairs as a guest on Mega’s “Koinonia Ora Mega” program.
Thessalniki Arson Attacks
Bakogianni first addressed the arson attack in Thessaloniki targeting New Democracy candidates, which killed the mother of candidate Afroditi Nestora. She said she felt both anger and deep sadness that in 2026 a woman could lose her life escaping one fire only for a second incendiary device to go off. She said she kept thinking of Nestora, a young woman devoted to charity work, who now has to live knowing her own activity was somehow tied to her mother’s death. She called it unthinkable that some people treat such acts as no big deal, dismissing them as collateral damage.
On the Koufodinas Case
She drew a comparison to remarks once made by convicted November 17 terrorist Dimitris Koufodinas about victim Nikos Axarlian, and said Greek society, along with nearly the entire political spectrum apart from one party, cannot accept that kind of logic.
She warned that verbal violence is what paves the way for physical violence, and said it must stop. She added that she hopes the killers behind the Marfin Bank deaths are eventually found, recalling how few people joined the candlelight vigil for the victims at the time, and said she remains deeply angry about it.
On the Predator Scandal
On the Dilian case, following her interview with Rania Tzima for IN’s “Interview” column, Bakogianni firmly ruled out any legislative amendment tied to businessman Tal Dilian, calling talk of one baseless rumor circulating behind the scenes.
She said Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis cannot be pressured by anyone, stressing that Dilian, who has already been convicted, is free to pursue his case at the appeals court if he has evidence, but noted he failed to produce any at his first trial.
She said she personally does not know Dilian, only that he is a convicted man with rights he can exercise on appeal, and dismissed further claims about the matter as untrue.
On the Prospect of Early Elections
Concerning the possibility of early elections, she said although there is some talk of a vote as early as autumn, she expects Mitsotakis to call elections around the same time next year instead, since the government is in the middle of major reforms whose results have yet to show.
She pointed to the Thessaloniki International Fair as a moment for significant decisions, particularly on small and medium sized businesses and tax policy, while voicing concern about developments in the Middle East.
On Foreign Affairs
Pertaining to foreign affairs, she said she sees no serious negotiation currently underway between the United States and Iran, and doubts former President Trump could override a Congressional decision, adding that the upcoming midterms are likely to bring bad news for Republicans.
She also said she does not believe Turkey will receive F-35 fighter jets, and thinks Turkish officials themselves are aware of this.
On Samaras
Turning to Antonis Samaras, Bakogianni was blunt, describing him as the embodiment of hypocrisy. She said she has nothing personal against him but pointed to specific facts from his time as prime minister, when then Foreign Minister Evangelos Venizelos presented Greece’s official position on the North Macedonia naming dispute at the United Nations exactly as it had been drafted, including a compound name, geographical qualifier and the erga omnes principle.
Meanwhile, she said, Samaras publicly insisted domestically that the name Macedonia could never be used. She also noted that Samaras met with Turkish President Erdogan roughly six times while, during that same period, there were 2,500 violations in the Aegean and Cyprus remained under occupation.
She argued that what has actually changed is that the current government negotiates with Turkey while simultaneously strengthening the country’s defenses. She said this government has delivered concrete, measurable results the public can see, and predicted the party will continue building on them.
In her view, Samaras’s real problem isn’t national issues but stubbornness, and she believes his aim is to strip New Democracy of its parliamentary majority, calling it his third attempt to damage the party.
