Greek Mitsotakis Government's 1990s Privatization Drive Sparks Criticism

In the early 1990s, the Greek government led by Konstantinos Mitsotakis launched a series of privatization initiatives. Public transport assets were transferred to political allies, and attempts were made to privatize the state electricity company DEKO and the telecommunications provider OTE. The administration also issued mobile‑phone licences to private operators, effectively excluding OTE from the mobile market. During this period, national contractors and firms such as Siemens became heavily involved in public‑sector projects, leading critics to argue that the reforms concentrated resources and influence in the hands of a limited group.

The actions were presented as a modernization effort, but they generated debate over the impact on public services and the fairness of the privatization process.