In response to the post and legal threat made by Elena Akrita against Pavlos Marinakis, associates of the government spokesperson have hit back, stating among other things: “Apparently, Ms. Akrita made this post because she doesn’t remember her dozens of toxic posts, which can very easily be found with a simple search on any search engine.”
It is worth recalling that the latest round of political confrontation between the government and SYRIZA erupted with Elena Akrita at its center, following her nomination for the position of Fifth Deputy Speaker of the Greek Parliament.
Marinakis allies fire back at Akrita: “Does she forget her dozens of toxic posts?”
Associates of Pavlos Marinakis point out that he never attributed a specific phrase to Elena Akrita, but rather stated that she is a prime example of someone who has spoken online using “the worst possible language.”
They go on to cite the following posts as indicative examples:
1. “The little towel on the bust pairs perfectly with the matching tablecloth skirt… a gold bag from an engagement party in some backwater village and vintage sandals straight out of the Martha Karagianni era.”
(Targeting journalist Katerina Panagopoulos over her appearance at the Presidential Mansion)
2. “Journalistic toilet,” “piece of s***,” “columnist of the a**,” “the brick he has for a head,” “useful idiots,” “vomit,” “feel free to throw up.”
(Directed at journalist Aggelos Provolisianos)
3. “TRASH. You are trash, Psarianos, and if you feel like it, take me to court.”
(An attack directed at Grigoris Psarianos)
Furthermore, as Marinakis’ associates emphasize: “On the contrary, what she posted is entirely fabricated, and unless Mr. Marinakis retracts it, she will be forced to take legal action.”
SYRIZA’s stance
As previously noted, the latest round of political confrontation between the government and SYRIZA erupted with Elena Akrita at its center, following her nomination for the position of Fifth Deputy Speaker of the Greek Parliament. SYRIZA’s Press Office issued a statement launching a fierce attack against Pavlos Marinakis, accusing him of making false and defamatory statements against the party’s national constituency MP.
The trigger was Pavlos Marinakis’ statements on OPEN television on Friday, August 28, in the context of the discussion surrounding Elena Akrita’s candidacy. According to SYRIZA’s statement, the government spokesperson claimed that the MP had been among those who, in terms of online discourse, “went to Syntagma Square, called for hangings and spoke of treason.”
SYRIZA’s headquarters categorically rejects this specific claim and calls on the government spokesperson to retract it immediately. The party argues that no article or online post by Elena Akrita contains any reference to “hangings” or any incitement to violence of any kind.
Furthermore, SYRIZA has characterized the looming veto by New Democracy against Elena Akrita’s election as Fifth Deputy Speaker of Parliament as “anti-institutional and retaliatory,” linking Pavlos Marinakis’ statements to the stance the ruling majority intends to take. According to SYRIZA, the government spokesperson is using these specific references to politically justify New Democracy’s position against the MP’s candidacy.
Personal attack on the government spokesperson
Additionally, the party’s statement includes a personal attack on Pavlos Marinakis, with SYRIZA resurfacing past online statements attributed to him and accusing him of contradicting himself — contrasting his current criticism of “toxicity” in public discourse with his own past conduct. The statement concludes: “The government spokesperson must retract his defamatory lie here and now.”
As a result of this affair, the political conflict is also spilling over into the institutional arena of Parliament, with the ruling majority’s stance on Elena Akrita’s candidacy for the parliamentary presidency firmly in the spotlight. At the same time, SYRIZA is demanding that Pavlos Marinakis publicly retract his disputed statements, while Elena Akrita herself has also called on the government spokesperson to withdraw his remarks — or face legal action.
