Top ministers and senior officials at the Maximos Mansion now openly acknowledge that the war between Makis Voridis and the Prime Minister is fully out in the open, with no pretenses being maintained.
Mitsotakis’ message via Varras
Varras’ confession at the Parliamentary Inquiry Committee that Makis Voridis “dismissed” him because he refused to give in to pressure regarding suspicious tax IDs linked to European subsidies caused a major stir. However, there was a second reading: Varras, who remains a close advisor to the Prime Minister, reportedly sent a message to Voridis from Mitsotakis himself, essentially saying: “I saved you from the Investigation Committee, don’t make this worse.”
Voridis picked up the gauntlet
Things, however, are not unfolding as the Maximos Mansion might have hoped, and certainly not calmly.
Voridis responded to Varras, showing that he is ready to speak and reveal many things, especially given that he was close to the Prime Minister for years as Minister of State.
Another notable development: from Voridis’ known media network, “threatening comments” have been directed at the Maximos Mansion, signaling that Voridis will not fight this battle alone.
The Mylonakis-Voridis meeting
Backstage rumors abound.
A few days ago, a meeting between the Prime Minister’s close advisor and Deputy Minister Giorgos Mylonakis and Voridis himself went very badly. Relations were already tense because Mr. Mylonakis had previously recommended to the Prime Minister that the former minister be referred to the Preliminary Investigation Committee — essentially suggesting Voridis should face the Special Court.
Voridis then sent messages to the Prime Minister, and eventually, a decision was made to not vote for the Preliminary Committee. Instead, an Investigative Committee covering events from 2000 onwards was proposed, which would appease all parties. This time, however, Mylonakis came as the Prime Minister’s representative and conveyed something to Voridis, which, judging by Voridis’ subsequent behavior, he did not accept, worsening relations between Voridis and the Maximos Mansion.
Voridis knows many of the Office’s secrets
Voridis reportedly has many ways to “bring the Maximos Mansion to its knees,” say those familiar with both sides.
First, his statements regarding Antonis Samaras — suggesting the former Prime Minister be approached to prevent him from forming a new party — created a stir and provoked reactions. He effectively built a movement of party officials supporting engagement with Samaras, something Mitsotakis did not want.
But there’s more. Voridis has managed major cases over the years on behalf of the Prime Minister and the government, giving him insight into many vulnerabilities within Maximos.
Additionally, as a member of the right-wing faction of New Democracy, he now has the power to damage the party at a time when it most needs unity. This ongoing Voridis-Maximos saga is expected to dominate political discussions in the coming months.
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