The Mitsotakis government is engaged in a two-level crisis management strategy, as beyond the OPEKEPE case and the court files reaching Parliament, on a second level within New Democracy there is dissatisfaction over the so-called “lumping together” of all MPs whose names appear in the court documents. On the first level, the defense line was already drawn from Holy Monday with the Prime Minister’s televised message, while on Holy Tuesday during a discussion at an Infrastructure and Transport Ministry event in Glyfada on “Greece creates a road safety culture,” he made reference to the battle against the deep state and clientelism and the successes the government has achieved.
“We are now at a stage where there is great discussion about the clientelist state and favors, about political patronage. The idea of canceling a traffic ticket with one phone call – let’s forget that definitively and irrevocably. I believe we provide very good service overall to the country with this policy,” noted Kyriakos Mitsotakis, referring to traffic citations.
On the second level, Pavlos Marinakis acknowledged that there is intense dissatisfaction both from politicians who see their names involved in cases and from society. As he said, many MPs “have been hung out to dry,” while in many cases the actual facts differ from the initial picture. At the same time, however, he emphasized that there is also a broader social feeling of indignation, with citizens wondering “how much longer they need connections to achieve something.”
“There are two truths we must see simultaneously,” the government spokesman said on Ertnews, explaining that on one hand politicians should not be collectively targeted, and on the other hand society demands “substantial changes and not just pleasant words.”
Georgiadis: “The methodology used by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office creates serious questions for me about whether we correctly supported the institution or not”
Meanwhile, Adonis Georgiadis directly questioned the European Public Prosecutor’s Office and its method of operation and action. “The methodology used by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office gives me the impression of organized and targeted political intervention and creates serious questions for me about whether we correctly supported the institution or not,” said the Health Minister speaking to Parapolitika 90.1. “The actions that the European Public Prosecutor’s Office is taking right now and the political turmoil it creates with its scheming is a serious reason for breaking trust,” he said subsequently, escalating his rhetoric against Laura Kövesi and the institution she heads.
Doubts were also expressed by New Democracy MP and OPEKEPE case figure Christos Boukoros, who argued (on SKAI) that there may have been selection in the wiretap transcripts initially presented, and that MPs beyond Dimitris Melas may have been monitored, with the surveillance possibly concealed, and he demands proof of this. “Who conducted these surveillances? Were they objective? Did they record everyone?” Mr. Boukoros said, emphasizing that the legality of procedures must be discussed and transparency must exist.
We recall that in his televised message, Kyriakos Mitsotakis had emphasized that none of the MPs is accused of gaining financial benefit, while he had asked the European Public Prosecutor’s Office “after lifting the immunity of our MPs, to proceed rapidly with all investigative actions and to decide if, how many and which ones it intends to prosecute,” without however exercising any further criticism.
“The Prime Minister or the Parliamentary Group secretary should take the initiative to convene the Parliamentary Group and have a clear discussion. We need this in New Democracy, to redefine ourselves on some things. We can’t be with everyone and everything, we can’t always be right. We’re not doing something well, who isn’t doing it well is not for me to say. I prefer to speak to the bodies and in parliamentary oversight,” said ND MP Georgos Vlachos in an interview on ANT1, who in recent years has occasionally criticized the government.
