Government and opposition are once again on a collision course after the brief Easter break respite. The first major battle between the two sides will take place at the parliamentary level this coming Thursday during a pre-agenda discussion in parliament at the political leaders’ level, with main focus on rule of law, institutions and justice. PASOK is already preparing for a major battle, as the main opposition party – through its leader Nikos Androulakis – was the one that forcefully raised these specific issues, demanding that Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis come to parliament to provide answers.
All this comes at a time when the wiretapping scandal continues to surface in public discourse (beyond the OPEKEPE scandal and the case files being forwarded to parliament, targeting government MPs). After all, the PASOK president has placed this specific issue at the top of his agenda, and it is considered certain that during his appearance at the parliament podium the day after tomorrow, he will hold Kyriakos Mitsotakis accountable, since the National Intelligence Service (EYP) reports to the prime minister. SYRIZA and New Left appear to be moving along the same lines, with both left-wing parties seeking to gain their share of the spotlight on this issue. Meanwhile, no one can predict the next moves of Intellexa founder Tal Dilian, who just days ago directly targeted the prime minister. In statements to Reuters and Inside Story, he announced he would appeal the conviction handed down by the Athens Single-Member Misdemeanor Court, while his references to Nixon and Watergate sparked fierce reactions. Many are expecting the Israeli businessman and veteran of the Israeli Armed Forces to make another “strike” in the next 24 hours, as he seemed to hint in his latest intervention.
