Costas Simitis

The fuss about the Prespes name deal deflected attention away from comments made by German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who during her visit to Athens stressed that Greece must stay the course on reforms.

Former Socialist prime minister Costas Simitis hit out against his implication in a money-laundering probe with regard to the acquisition of a C4I security system for the 2004 Athens Olympics, saying that "personal attacks can't touch me."

"It is dangerous for the public life of the country to be dragged into the mud while we are still in a crisis," he said in a statement.

Many believe that the agreement between Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and Archbishop Ieronymos and efforts to cast aspersions on former premier Costas Simitis by launching a probe into his and his family's finances have had the opposite effect to what the government had intended. That belief is probably correct, but we will know for sure at the next general elections.

Former Socialist prime minister Costas Simitis reacted angrily on Wednesday after it emerged that Greek anti-money-laundering authorities have requested the opening of his bank accounts in connection with the acquisition of a C4I security system for the 2004 Athens Olympics, saying he has "nothing to hide."

Former Prime Minister Costas Simitis has reacted to reports that Greek anti money-laundering authorities have requested the opening of his bank accounts saying he has "nothing to hide."

Describing the allegations contained in the report published in Ta Nea daily Wednesday as "slanderous," Simitis said he would respond to them after finding out "who is behind them."

Greece's anti money-laundering authorities have begun the process to open bank accounts held by Costas Simitis, family members of the ex socialist prime minister, and two former PASOK ministers, according to a report in Ta Nea newspaper on Wednesday which was confirmed by officials.

In a statement on Wednesday, former socialist prime minister Costas Simitis said Athens should urge European Union officials to enforce measures to protect Greece from Turkey which has become increasingly aggressive in recent weeks.

The leader of the new center-left Movement for Change, Fofi Gennimata (second from left), and other key players attend the party's inaugural conference in Athens on Friday.

At Delphi on Friday, former premier Costas Simitis backed the Bank of Greece in its support for a precautionary line of credit after the end of Greece's bailout program, but former Euro Working Group president Thomas Wieser said that was "rather unlikely."

Police on Monday were investigating the circumstances surrounding a murder-suicide in which a 46-year-old policeman shot dead his wife, mother-in-law and 3-year-old daughter before killing himself in their home in the western Athens suburb of Aghioi Anargyroi.