Mixed messages from Greek government on Piraeus privatisation

Confusion reigns in Greece on whether the new government will block the privatisation of the Piraeus Port.

The government, a coalition formed by the left-wing Syriza and the right-wing Independent Greeks party, was elected promising to halt austerity measures and the sell-off of the Piraeus Port company to interested parties including China’s Cosco.

In January, this was still the government’s position. Theodoris Dritsas, the deputy minister of shipping, said on January 27: “The public character of Piraeus port will be maintained. The privatisation stops right here, right now”, adding that “the entire local community opposes this [privatisation] plan”.