Political tensions rise in Greece over wiretapping case decision
Political tensions have escalated in Greece after the prosecutor of the Areios Pagos decided not to reopen the wiretapping case, triggering strong reactions from opposition parties.
The leader of PASOK, Nikos Androulakis, announced during an emergency press conference that he will request the establishment of a parliamentary inquiry committee. He described the case as a “dark affair” and said six new legal complaints would be filed.
Androulakis accused Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of being willing to do anything to remain in power, adding that he would work to restore Greece as a “normal European country.”
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis criticized Androulakis, accusing him of contradicting his earlier statements about respecting judicial independence. In a social media post, Marinakis said the opposition leader had shifted from strong rhetoric about institutional respect to attacking the judiciary following the ruling.
According to party sources, SYRIZA is supportive of PASOK’s proposal to form an inquiry committee, with coordination expected between opposition parliamentary groups.
Senior SYRIZA figure Sokratis Famellos called for swift cooperation among democratic forces to restore the rule of law, which he said has been seriously undermined.
The Communist Party of Greece also condemned the decision, describing it as part of an attempt to cover up the scandal.
Meanwhile, the party Niki said the handling of the case amounted to a deliberate downgrading of an issue that strikes at the core of democracy.
Former prime minister Alexis Tsipras commented that “what is easily archived can just as easily be reopened,” suggesting the case may return to the spotlight.
