Rift between Spirtzis and TAIPED grows
The clash between the Infrastructure Ministry and state sell-off fund TAIPED is intensifying by the day, with the privatization of railway services operator Trainose shaping up to be the latest bone of contention.
The tension between the two sides has heightened following the appointment of a new administration to Trainose last week on the initiative of Minister Christos Spirtzis – a move which, according to market observers, is seen serving mainly political rather than corporate objectives.
Taking place just as TAIPED is set to proclaim a new tender for Trainose, the move is considered pointless and it could create obstacles for the privatization, while the new board members will not have adequate time to get up to speed on the company before it is sold to a private investor.
Again on Tuesday the minister placed part of the blame on TAIPED for the cancellation of the first tender for the sale of Trainose, assigning the rest to the government of Antonis Samaras.
The project for the privatization of another stake in the Athens International Airport, which has also been delayed, has emerged as yet another bone of contention between the ministry and TAIPED.
