Many are wondering what the leader of Course of Freedom aims to achieve with her attacks over the past 24 hours against members of the judiciary, as this confrontation has reached its limits. Yesterday, the well-known lawyer and president of Course of Freedom, Zoe Konstantopoulou, speaking on Parapolitika 90.1, attacked once again the president of the Union of Judges and Prosecutors, Christophoros Sevastidis, whom she characterized as “Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s new press spokesperson,” accusing him of carrying out the “government’s dirty work.” She also called him “vulgar” and accused him of engaging in politics while appearing as a judge.
It should be noted that a few days earlier, the president of the Union of Judges and Prosecutors, targeting Zoe Konstantopoulou, had spoken about persons who “act covered behind parliamentary immunity,” “instrumentalize the trial and sell shows to television cameras and social media,” while yesterday he also spoke about a “holy family.” From that moment on, the story took on the characteristics of a vendetta, as Nikos Konstantopoulos also intervened in the situation. Many argue that the president of Course of Freedom has exceeded every limit, as her behavior inside the courtroom is provocative, given that she videotapes police officers while attacking the presiding judge at least twice.
Judge’s withdrawal “because of Zoe Konstantopoulou” and restart of the trial for the lost videos
It is characteristic that in the court trying the case of the lost videos from the fatal train collision, the presiding judge filed a withdrawal request, which was accepted, attributing responsibility for this decision to Zoe Konstantopoulou. This development comes after 19 court sessions and while the first three witnesses had testified. This means the trial will restart from the beginning. “From the beginning I hear insults! No more! I won’t tolerate it! I will declare withdrawal and the council will decide. You don’t let me speak!” said the president of the Larissa Misdemeanor Court.
“The trial cannot continue like this, all these months I have received countless insults, I will submit a withdrawal statement,” said the presiding judge, with Konstantopoulou responding: “Shame, we will wait for the council to decide on your withdrawal request…” The aggressiveness of Konstantopoulou, the court president claimed, was such that she could not perform her duties. The government camp believes that the leader of Course of Freedom does not want the trial to begin, as—according to the same people—she wants to keep the case open and the government hostage, for her own political benefits.
Others argue that Maria Karystianou’s appearance in politics has made Zoe Konstantopoulou even more aggressive, in order not to lose that segment of voters who sided with her on the Tempe issue and whom she now risks losing because of the new “Beginning.” The same people believe that the leader of Course of Freedom will make her presence felt every day at the trial, showcasing moments from her interventions on social media. Any prosecution against her would actually make her particularly sympathetic to the public, as the overwhelming majority—as recorded in polls—believes that the judiciary is not doing its job properly.
She follows the same line she has in parliament, as she believes there is a logic of cover-up. Based on this reasoning and obviously building on some oversights or mistakes by the government and judiciary, she is expected to appear as… Robin Hood, as the guardian of citizens’ interests who cannot find justice in the courts. It is characteristic that, regarding the events at the video trial, she spoke of a “dirty system” that, in her view, attempts to neutralize the victims’ parents, lawyers, and experts, in order to ensure a specific outcome. She emphasized that she and her associates will proceed with all necessary actions once they gain full access to the material.
