Scenes of shame unfolded on Wednesday in Strasbourg starring former SYRIZA MEP Nikos Pappas, who violently attacked journalist Nikos Giannopoulos without any real reason, resulting in his swift removal from SYRIZA’s European group and the European Left. The degradation of the MEP office obviously brings to the surface the persistent problem that exists across all parties, which, in order to boost their electoral percentages, select individuals who are simply well-known and have no connection to politics, let alone the European Parliament. However, the former SYRIZA MEP had caused controversy in the past both with his statements and his behavior.
The two men will now meet in court, as Nikos Giannopoulos, in addition to the lawsuit he filed in Strasbourg, which resulted in Nikos Pappas being sought through summary proceedings, will continue the judicial process in our country as well. Much has been heard about the reasons why Nikos Pappas committed this act – such as that in the past Nikos Giannopoulos had written something against him as a sports editor. What matters is that the former SYRIZA MEP crossed every line by hitting him – according to the journalist – with punches to the head.
Nikos Giannopoulos plans restraining order against Nikos Pappas
Furthermore, the journalist, in order not to face other problems, plans to seek a restraining order against Nikos Pappas, while speaking to Action 24 he stated that he only wants to see him in the courtroom. SYRIZA president Sokratis Famellos contacted the journalist from the first moment and learned the events firsthand. According to Nikos Giannopoulos, the incident occurred at a bar in Strasbourg, where the journalists of the delegation had gone, around 11:30 PM local time, where the former SYRIZA MEP was also present with his associates. A short time later, the journalist left the bar with a female colleague heading to the hotel where they were staying. Then, Nikos Pappas, as they were passing by him, allegedly tripped Nikos Giannopoulos, who addressed him saying: “Don’t touch me again.”
Subsequently, the former SYRIZA MEP told the journalist to “go outside to settle this.” However, the journalist continued on his way and as soon as he reached the door connecting the bar to a restaurant, he felt two strong punches to his head from behind, causing him to fall in the corridor between the two establishments. Nikos Giannopoulos asked Nikos Pappas: “What are you doing there? You are an active MEP,” to which he replied: “How could I not hit you the way you are?”
Nikos Giannopoulos returned to the bar injured to inform the other colleagues of the journalistic delegation that he had been attacked by Nikos Pappas.
Nikos Pappas: “I had the wrong reaction to his action-provocation against me”
For his part, the expelled MEP admitted to the incident, but tried to defend himself saying that “I had the wrong reaction to his action-provocation against me” and that “I should have acted differently to what he did and said being in that state.” He also noted that some have rushed “to condemn me before even learning my version, as well as the real facts.”
“Both in my career as an athlete and now as an MEP I was never the media’s favorite. Quite the opposite. So I’m not surprised by the fact that some have rushed to condemn me before even learning my version as well as the real facts. Out of respect for the fact that this particular journalist is a father of two children, I will not publicly analyze at least what happened on Tuesday night, nor in what exact state he was in. However, what precedes is not forgotten, nor does it diminish the attribution of responsibility. I admit however that I had the wrong reaction to his action-provocation against me, and that I should have acted differently to what he did and said being in that state. Perhaps this state of his was the reason why he ‘transferred’ events and phrases as he believes they happened and not as they happened. The rest will be brought to the attention of the authorities when necessary, as there were eyewitnesses and earwitnesses.”
