Ethics Committee chairman Giorgos Georgandas is expected to be the first to review the material submitted by the Ministry of Justice, in order to schedule the committee session during which the question of lifting Avramopoulos’ immunity will be examined. At the same time, Mr. Georgandas will inform Mr. Avramopoulos of the warrant issued by the EU, and will also notify the MPs participating in the Ethics Committee. The Ethics Committee is likely to convene at the beginning of next week, with the former European Commissioner and current MP for Ilia expected to decide whether he will appear in person or submit a written statement.
As is customary in such cases, the final decision on whether to lift parliamentary immunity rests with the Plenary, where a public roll-call vote will take place during a special session. During that session, Mr. Avramopoulos has the right, under parliamentary rules, to take the floor if he so wishes. The Plenary debate is likely to take place either at the end of next week or at the beginning of the week after.
It should be noted that Dimitris Avramopoulos has already stated that he will request the lifting of his parliamentary immunity, in order to allow the judicial investigation of the case to proceed without obstruction. According to information, the file transmitted without delay to parliament includes references to offences related to membership in a criminal organization, public corruption, and money laundering.
