Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is traveling to Thessaloniki today with a large delegation of his cabinet, ahead of the 89th Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), one of the country’s most significant annual economic and political events.
Mitsotakis’ program includes a packed schedule of meetings with rectors of public universities, business representatives, and scientific organizations in northern Greece. He is also set to speak at an event hosted at the Thessaloniki Concert Hall, where key projects for the city will be presented.
Among those accompanying him are several ministers and senior figures of the ruling New Democracy party, underscoring the political weight of the visit. The prime minister will also hold discussions with local MPs from the Thessaloniki constituencies and the national list.
A day of back-to-back meetings
According to the official schedule, the prime minister’s day begins with a meeting with MPs at 10:00, followed by his presence at the signing of a cooperation memorandum between Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (AUTH) and several major business associations. He will then meet rectors, before attending the project presentation event.
In the afternoon, Mitsotakis is scheduled to hold separate discussions with groups of business and scientific representatives, highlighting his government’s focus on regional development, research, and economic growth in northern Greece.
Political clash with PASOK
The trip comes as political tensions between the government and the opposition have escalated. A sharp exchange took place between government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis and PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis during a televised interview.
Androulakis accused Marinakis of slander, calling him a “liar and defamer,” after comments regarding PASOK’s parliamentary tactics. Marinakis immediately demanded a retraction, insisting that his remarks had been misrepresented.
The war of words has since intensified, with government officials accusing PASOK of spreading “falsehoods and half-truths” about the economy and public finances. They also criticized Androulakis for misleading statements on the cost of restoring a 13th public-sector salary and for miscalculations regarding inflation and economic growth.
