Greece’s ruling New Democracy party is under mounting pressure following claims that a politically linked communications agency, Blue Skies, served as a covert propaganda and funding arm for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ government.
The allegations, reported by Politico, suggest Blue Skies — a lesser-known spin-off of the public relations giant V+O — paid salaries to over a dozen individuals simultaneously holding senior roles within New Democracy. Critics say this amounts to “shadow financing” and accuse the firm of orchestrating online disinformation campaigns, including attacks on grieving families of the 2023 Tempi rail disaster.
“This is an extreme institutional aberration that undermines democracy,” said New Left MP Nasos Iliopoulos, pointing to claims that public money may have indirectly funded these efforts.
Among those reportedly involved are Minister of Labour Domna Michailidou, Deputy Minister of Transport Konstantinos Kyranakis, and Thanasis Bakolas, outgoing Secretary General of the European People’s Party. Kyranakis confirmed he worked at the agency from 2016 to 2019 while also serving as New Democracy’s deputy spokesman, insisting he was “a normal employee who paid taxes normally.”
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis rejected the accusations as “a relic of science fiction,” stating, “In New Democracy, a position in the party is not a job… We want more professionals involved in political life.”
Blue Skies denied any wrongdoing, claiming the hiring of politically experienced staff is routine and that the company does not police the private social media activities of its employees.
The opposition, including PASOK, Syriza, and the New Left, are calling for an urgent judicial investigation. Syriza MEP Kostas Arvanitis has also called on European institutions to act, warning of a serious threat to democratic integrity.
Source: tovima.com
