Intense confrontation erupted in Parliament between Deputy National Economy Minister Nikos Papathanasis and Plefsi Eleftherias leader Zoi Konstantopoulou, centering on the handling of the Tempi tragedy. Nikos Papathanasis accused Zoi Konstantopoulou of “systematically exploiting the pain of victims’ families” for political purposes, with her responding “it’s a cover-up“.
Konstantopoulou’s accusations regarding €647,000 disbursement for Tempi site cleanup
Zoi Konstantopoulou referred to the present Deputy Minister of National Economy and Finance Nikos Papathanasis, as a minister who «has personally been involved and is the one who in January 2024, eleven months after the Tempi crime, signed the disbursement of €647,000 from the public treasury for covering up the Tempi crime scene».
«You removed materials from the site, disregarding even the fact that you were removing human remains and personal belongings. You then poured asphalt and cement. You gave the order not to let parents open the coffins. You forbade them from identifying their children. The deputy health minister issued a decree that they wouldn’t allow it. Remember? And you pressure judges who give in to hastily close the investigation, to essentially cover up the inquiry, so the truth doesn’t come out», said Ms. Konstantopoulou and noted that Mr. Papathanasis put his signature to giving public money to cover up the site where «the lives of 57 people were taken».
Zoi Konstantopoulou’s comment on government stance regarding Routsis hunger strike
Referring to the government’s stance toward Panos Routsis’s hunger strike, the Plefsi Eleftherias leader commented that while a father risks his life to vindicate his child, and society watches this struggle in shock, the government turns a blind eye. «Even your former prime minister and former party leader who lost his own child forty days ago told you so. Mr. Samaras. He told you in the way a normal person, a father feels it, saying that it’s never possible for the government, and some appointed judges, I say, to deny this supreme moral right», said Ms. Konstantopoulou and called on the minister to take a position.
«We’ve discussed what the Public Investment Program does. It essentially pays state expenses. Whether it’s natural disasters or projects», the deputy national economy minister stated.
«It’s a cover-up» Ms. Konstantopoulou was heard saying.
Papathanasis responds about exploiting pain by Zoi Konstantopoulou
«Ms. Konstantopoulou, if the term ‘political exploitation of pain’ had a name, it would be called Zoi Konstantopoulou. This is how you survive as a party and wherever you find pain, you go and exploit it. You do it systematically. You are a professional pain exploiter. You live off it», Mr. Papathanasis responded and continued: «if you don’t know it, let me tell you again. When needed, at that moment, in the tragic accident cranes that lift 60 tons, you don’t conduct a tender under law 4412 on public contracts. You give orders-not us, the Region, the competent authorities-for the machinery to go there to lift the wagons, to be able to save those who are injured or subsequently to make a very difficult transfer of the bodies. You don’t conduct a tender Ms. Konstantopoulou. I didn’t sign at that time, because I didn’t have the competence. I’ve told you so. That’s why you’re lying. You’re lying. I didn’t have the competence, I wasn’t even the competent minister, it was Mr. Tsakiris. But even if I were, I would have signed then. I signed an administrative extension to complete the submission of documents. I didn’t sign the €650,000, but if I were, I would have signed it, because at that moment the cranes had to lift the wagons, which are very heavy and the state doesn’t have such cranes. Private companies have them, to be able».
Zoi Konstantopoulou’s criticism of justice system leadership
During her intervention, the Plefsi Eleftherias leader also referred to yesterday’s «terrible interventions» by the President and Prosecutor of the Supreme Court. «A justice conference was held, co-organized by the Supreme Court, the Supreme Court Prosecutor’s Office, the Court of Audit, the Council of State, that is, the four court bodies whose leadership is appointed by the government. Who did they co-organize it with? With the Association of Greek Industries, with SEV, and with the Law Firms Association and with the Kapodistrian University», said Ms. Konstantopoulou and commented that the justice leadership sat with the government vice-president and «the Supreme Court President lashed out saying the investigation has been legally closed, while there’s still scope for the file to be returned, for the prosecutor’s proposal to be ruled invalid».
«Justice doesn’t belong to Mr. Tzavelas and Ms. Papadopoulou who came out yesterday like panelists to give credentials and bow to the government», said Ms. Konstantopoulou and continued: «Is this justice leadership? A Supreme Court president who indignantly said the investigation has been legally closed, while all relatives dispute it? A Supreme Court president who said she shares the relatives’ pain but they have people around them who exploit them? Who exploits them? The lawyers defending them? Is this the Supreme Court President’s perception? To leave them to your claws and teeth? A prosecutor who said ‘let me also express my indignation’. Why is the Supreme Court Prosecutor indignant? Because we ask him to do what’s legal? It’s a great shame and crime for justice, at this moment, for its leadership to show this historically despicable stance when it should protect Panos Routsis’s request, to give credentials to the government».
