Government and opposition are taking battle positions in the parliamentary arena, with the next two days in Parliament’s plenary session set to be explosive, as two special sessions will discuss the proposals submitted by PASOK and SYRIZA with New Left for establishing a Preliminary Investigation Committee for Spilios Livanos and Fotini Arabatzis regarding the OPEKEPE scandal, as well as PASOK’s proposal for establishing an Investigation Committee for the wiretapping case.
Preliminary investigation for OPEKEPE: The two ballot boxes and secret voting
The outcome for establishing the Preliminary Investigation is predetermined, as for the government majority “there are not even sufficient indications of involvement” by the two politicians. This means that New Democracy’s parliamentary group will vote against both proposals, while the entire opposition will vote in favor. Today’s discussion will start at 9 AM and conclude late in the evening with a secret ballot, as two ballot boxes will be set up. Those individuals for whom the Preliminary Investigation is requested have the right to intervene in the discussion, as well as party leaders. According to sources, the government will be represented by the leadership of the Justice Ministry and the Rural Development Ministry. It should be noted that 151 positive votes are required to approve the proposal for a Preliminary Investigation.
Wiretapping: PASOK’s proposal for Investigation Committee and the puzzle of 120 or 151 votes
Meanwhile, tomorrow, Friday, Parliament’s plenary will discuss PASOK’s proposal for establishing an Investigation Committee on wiretapping. The main issue that the plenary will need to address is with what majority the Investigation proposal will “pass” – with 120 or 151 votes. “It’s evident that there will be two different views,” commented Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis after the Presidents’ Conference, referring the puzzle of the required majority to the plenary itself. Charilaou Trikoupi Street invokes the constitutional right given to minorities to form Investigation Committees with 120 positive votes. In this case, it’s considered certain that most opposition parties will vote in favor, while this doesn’t apply to matters related to foreign policy and national defense, where an absolute majority of 151 is required. Indeed, PASOK, anticipating what will happen tomorrow in the plenary, emphasized through its announcement: “Don’t let the government majority think of degrading Parliament again to avoid accountability for the foul-smelling scandal of illegal surveillance. The cover-up will not pass.”
New political clash over leaked Androulakis-NIS conversations
Simultaneously, it’s considered certain that during this specific session, government and PASOK will exchange fierce fire over the leak of part of the dialogues that Nikos Androulakis had with the NIS director, while the session will take place in the shadow of Parliament Speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis’ order to the competent Ethics Committee to conduct an investigation into the source of the leaks and then proceed with legal procedures. Indeed, Mr. Kaklamanis in a conversation with parliamentary correspondents left open even the possibility of criminal prosecution. “It’s even a criminal offense!” the Parliament Speaker characteristically stated.
