Balkans | Wiretapping scandal in Greece: the opposition decided not to participate in the parliamentary vote

The eavesdropping scandal continues to reverberate in Greece.

After allegations of wiretapping of high-level names with the “Predator” spy program in the country, the main opposition party, the Radical Left-Progressive Alliance (SYRIZA), took action and submitted a motion of no confidence in the government in order to highlight the wiretapping scandal that occupied the country’s agenda. There were 143 yes votes and 156 no votes in the motion, of which 299 MPs voted.

After the proposal was rejected with 52 percent of the vote, Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras stated that his party would not participate in legislative votes until the elections, and called for the election of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

In his statement to the press, Tsipras recalled the allegations that the Greek Intelligence Organization (EYP) had listened to the country’s ministers, party leaders, MEPs, journalists and dignitaries of the Hellenic Armed Forces. The allegations were taken into account with the debates that took place in Parliament within the framework of the no-confidence question submitted by SYRIZA, and it was stated that they revealed new facts that could not be ignored.

Call for early elections

Blaming Mitsotakis for the eavesdropping scandal, Tsipras said, “This government has been overthrown politically and morally for us and for every democratic citizen. He cannot stay in power for one second and make crucial decisions about the Greek people. For this reason, we demand the immediate dissolution of the assembly and we appeal the will of the people within three weeks at most, as stipulated in the Constitution.” He said.

Ruling out legal arrangements that would prevent political formations that are a continuation of the far-right, neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party from entering parliament, Tsipras said, “We will not participate in any vote in parliament from now on.” He said.

Entry is not accepted

Syriza’s question of no confidence in the government over the wiretapping scandal that has been on the country’s agenda for months was not accepted by the votes of the ruling party, New Democracy, in the vote held in the Hellenic Parliament on January 27.

listening scandal

The wiretapping scandal emerged in the country in April 2022, after the discovery of the “predatory” spyware on the mobile phone of Greek journalist Thanassis Kokakis.

In the news in the Greek media, the phones of several important politicians, bureaucrats, journalists and businessmen were allegedly wiretapped, including former Prime Minister Andonis Samaras, Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, and Chief of the General Staff Konstandanos Floros.

NTV