The OPEKEPE case, which sparked fierce confrontations and heavy political accusations, takes a new turn following statements by SYRIZA’s Justice spokesperson, Giannis Mantzourani. Speaking publicly, he admitted that the case file forwarded by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to Parliament contains no incriminating evidence against Makis Voridis and Lefteris Avgenakis. “It is true and it is a given fact,” he declared, clarifying that the forwarding was done for institutional reasons, as required by the Constitution. This statement comes as confirmation of what New Democracy has been arguing for some time. The party’s press spokesperson, Alexandra Sdoukou, did not fail to comment on SYRIZA’s “forced turn” toward logic, calling on them to retract their insinuations about “Camorra-style” practices. Meanwhile, she also aimed criticism at PASOK, demanding a responsible stance toward the truth.
The political scene remains tense, with the government speaking of an opposition trapped in a narrative without institutional or legal foundation. The confrontation is now shifting from the sphere of impressions to the sphere of evidence.
Mantzourani’s admission regarding Voridis and Avgenakis’ innocence
SYRIZA’s Justice spokesperson Giannis Mantzourani, speaking this morning on Mega TV, stated that there is essentially no incriminating evidence against Makis Voridis and Lefteris Avgenakis in the case file forwarded by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to Parliament regarding the OPEKEPE case.
He characteristically added: “It is true and it is a given fact, because this is what the Constitution, Parliament’s regulations, and the law dictate. That is, what? That if a minister’s name emerges, the judges immediately send the case to Parliament for investigation.”
See what Mr. Mantzourani says after 15:00:
Alexandra Sdoukou’s response
New Democracy’s press spokesperson, Alexandra Sdoukou, stated for her part: “we welcome the -forced- turn of SYRIZA toward logic and especially toward the truth. We expect, however, SYRIZA’s leadership to also retract their “Camorra” references and return to the path of reality. We also expect PASOK to assume its own responsibility toward the truth,” while concluding that “It is finally proven that the issue for SYRIZA and the other opposition parties is not the substance and the truth, but who says what.”
The statement by New Democracy press spokesperson Alexandra Sdoukou
SYRIZA’s Justice spokesperson Giannis Mantzourani, in his television interview, admitted that there is no reference and no incriminating evidence regarding Mr. Voridis and Mr. Avgenakis in the case file forwarded by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office to Parliament.
“It is true and it is a given fact, because this is what the Constitution, Parliament’s regulations, and the law dictate. That is, what? That if a minister’s name emerges, the judges immediately send the case to Parliament for investigation,” Mr. Mantzourani said characteristically.
We welcome the -forced- turn of SYRIZA toward logic and especially toward the truth. We expect, however, SYRIZA’s leadership to also retract their “Camorra” references and return to the path of reality.
We also expect PASOK to assume its own responsibility toward the truth.
What has begun to become known and accepted by everyone, however, is not accepted by the opposition, which has trapped itself in an anti-government narrative without meaning. When we in the government and New Democracy have been arguing for some time that based on Article 86 of the Constitution, the reference made in the case file to the two political figures is not subject to evaluation, the entire opposition accuses us of (supposedly) attacking the European Public Prosecutor.
It is finally proven that the issue for SYRIZA and the other opposition parties is not the substance and the truth, but who says what.
When it’s Mr. Mantzourani, it’s “Friday morning,” when a New Democracy official says it, it’s “a crime of subversion.”
But when they remove their blinders, it will be too late…
