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Samaras Criticizes Mitsotakis over Hydrocarbon Agreements and Cyprus Deployment

Published March 12, 2026, 17:08
Samaras Criticizes Mitsotakis over Hydrocarbon Agreements and Cyprus Deployment

Former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras launched a sharp critique of current Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis during a parliamentary debate on hydrocarbon exploration agreements with Chevron. Mr. Samaras responded to recent remarks by the Prime Minister regarding “professional worriers,” stating he wouldn't believe they referred to two former prime ministers, but if so, Mr. Mitsotakis should be concerned. He praised the government's deployment of forces to Cyprus and Patriots to Karpathos as positive moves, but criticized the lack of response in Kasos. He warned that these actions should not be mere gestures but supported by a credible policy towards Turkey. Furthermore, Mr. Samaras expressed serious reservations about Article 30 of the agreement with Chevron, which he argued opens the “Syracuse Gate” for the Turkish-Libyan Memorandum. He accused the New Democracy party of having mutated and stated that there are no “professional worriers,” but “amateur complacency.” The criticism from Mr. Samaras focused on foreign policy and the management of national interests, while indirectly criticizing the political line followed by the Mitsotakis government.