The confrontation continues between government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis and PASOK press spokesperson Kostas Tsoukalas, with the latter launching attacks against the former, claiming that once again he is lying and misleading.
Fierce confrontation between Tsoukalas-Marinakis with accusations of “lies” and “quotes”
Specifically, Kostas Tsoukalas stated: “We didn’t expect anything different from the Government Spokesperson. It’s well known that he has fallen out with the truth. Once again he lies and misleads. We call on him to prove his claims, otherwise let him do what he always does after his cheap bravado – choose tactical retreat.”
He added: “The Maximos gang is multiply exposed. When the truth doesn’t suit them, they choose political thuggery. Panic is not a good advisor. Retract your lies because you will be irreparably exposed.”
Marinakis: “PASOK’s Press Spokesperson should drop personal attacks and cheap quotes”
Earlier, Pavlos Marinakis posed a series of questions to Kostas Tsoukalas, calling on him to address Nikos Androulakis. “PASOK’s Press Spokesperson would be better off dropping personal attacks and cheap quotes and asking his party’s President to answer the following simple questions,” Mr. Marinakis emphasized.
He then presented the following questions: “Was he personally in communication for months with Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis, within the framework of finding mutually acceptable persons, so that enhanced majorities could emerge, as mandated by the country’s Constitution, to prevent Independent Authorities from remaining headless? Is it true that, after these discussions, government majority and main opposition had agreed on two mutually acceptable persons, which is why the Parliament Speaker announced them at the Conference of Presidents? Did the potential new ‘partners’ from the ‘wonderful’ world of populism and extreme toxicity know about PASOK’s talks with the Government? The time has come for PASOK’s president to understand that ‘you can fool many for a little while or you can fool few for a long time, but you cannot fool everyone forever’.”
Marinakis: Exposes Androulakis on Independent Authorities
Additionally, Pavlos Marinakis speaking on Saturday morning (2/5) on MEGA referred to PASOK and Nikos Androulakis, presenting the entire history of government agreements with the party. Specifically, he referred to PASOK’s president, Nikos Androulakis, saying he was trying to reach agreement with New Democracy while also winking at the rest of the opposition. The government spokesman continued saying that “he stepped on two boats, fell in the middle and instead of apologizing, he wagged his finger at the government for coup and institutional inconsistency.”
In detail, Pavlos Marinakis said: “I don’t want to say more about the political decline and toxic rhetoric, it’s actually funny that they try to ‘balance it out’ by referring to the Truth Team, a page that has never hidden and highlights the truth. In any case. What happened with the Independent Authorities I believe is unprecedented in terms of Mr. Androulakis’s audacity and cynicism. First, we have three independent authorities headless for years, meaning they don’t have heads, the head’s term has expired, in one case for a year, a little more, and in the other two for four years. The Constitution mandates consensus. Why? Because for Independent Authorities from the Conference of Presidents to elect the new head, an enhanced majority is needed. So when the Constitution tells you you need 3/5, thus an enhanced majority, agreements and consensus are needed. It’s not some ‘compromise’, it’s something the Constitution requires. We have 16 out of 29. So we can’t do it alone. But certainly it can’t happen without ND which had the 16 out of 29.”
He continued saying: “So months ago began an understanding with PASOK’s president personally, personal communication with PASOK’s president, with a top government official. Right? All this exists, the communications are obviously verbal, but it’s something that’s not disputed. PASOK correctly requested that there be a call for CVs. We agreed, a call was made, over forty CVs were submitted -for all three positions- and we concluded with Mr. Androulakis, the person who was talking with him, with Mr. Androulakis, because he didn’t want for the third independent authority to two persons for two of the three. I’ll mention the persons. Mr. Makrydimitris who was a mutually acceptable proposal but more ours and Ms. Syggouna for APDPCH (Personal Data Protection Authority) who was mutually acceptable but more PASOK’s proposal. For the agreement to exist.”
When asked by journalists why it didn’t proceed, Pavlos Marinakis said: “So Mr. Androulakis and PASOK, while they had said yes, came to Parliament, this was actually the reason the Parliament Speaker said those two names, he didn’t go crazy and say them, there was obviously a political understanding. He came to Parliament and went to proceed only with his own choice and propose another choice, which I don’t underestimate the choice he proposed but you see from his inconsistency -which doesn’t exist- and complete lack of elementary credibility. But what’s most terrible? While he retreated leaving Independent Authorities headless, PASOK wagged its finger and shouted and at the same time the stance of the rest of the opposition, the populist parties shows the following terrible thing and I’ll close with this. At the moment when Mr. Androulakis was trying to reach agreement, so that independent authorities wouldn’t be headless, with us, with ND, he was also winking at the rest of the opposition and telling them, ‘I’m not going to agree, I’ll continue to attack and do nothing.’ So there, he reached the point of stepping on two boats, fell in the middle and instead of apologizing, wagged his finger at the government for coup and institutional inconsistency. That’s too much.”
PASOK to Marinakis & Maximos: “Much anxiety about second place – You won’t choose New Democracy’s opponent”
For its part, PASOK launched a fierce attack on the government, accusing it of misleading and anti-institutional practices, aimed at -as it emphasizes- its “anxiety” about second place in the political scene. In its announcement, PASOK turns against government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, claiming he tried to create impressions about an alleged agreement for choosing the head of the Ombudsman.
Meanwhile, Charilaou Trikoupi speaks of “unprecedented” stance by the government majority, accusing it of postponing the procedure provided for appointing new leadership at the Personal Data Protection Authority.
Particularly sharp is the comment about the political climate, with PASOK noting that “Mr. Marinakis has much anxiety about second place,” adding that “the government of scandals and corruption will hardly avoid it.” As emphasized, the party “fights for first place, not rearguard,” stressing that New Democracy’s opponent will ultimately be decided by the Greek people.
Full PASOK announcement
“Lying has become second nature to those residing in Maximos Mansion to cover their anti-institutional machinations each time. Today the Government Spokesperson who thinks he’s the official voice of the ‘Truth Team’ and not the Greek government, spoke of alleged agreement on the person of the Ombudsman head to mislead from the unprecedented move by the Parliament Speaker and government majority not to appoint the APDPCH head and postpone the procedure explicitly provided by the Constitution and Parliament Rules.
We categorically deny this. PASOK doesn’t make deals. Let both Mr. Mitsotakis and New Democracy’s government digest this. And we come to the essence: Two days later, will the government inform us why it didn’t proceed with appointing Mrs. Syggouna, for whom a 3/5 majority was confirmed? Why does the government want the Personal Data Protection Authority to remain headless and deactivated?
And one last thing: Mr. Marinakis has much anxiety about second place. Rightfully so because the government of scandals, corruption, institutional undermining and destruction of citizens’ purchasing power will hardly avoid it. PASOK fights for first place, not rearguard. You’ll get used to this too in time. New Democracy’s opponent, unfortunately for you, will be chosen neither by you Mr. Marinakis, nor by anxious Mr. Georgiadis, nor obviously by Mr. Mitsotakis. The Greek people have judged, know and will decide for their future. With PASOK and Nikos Androulakis they will realize polar change and the country’s new course.”
