Greece: Vote on lifting immunity for 13 New Democracy MPs amid OPAPKEPE scandal

ATHENS – A significant political storm is brewing in Greece as lawmakers prepare to vote on lifting the parliamentary immunity of 13 members of the ruling New Democracy party. The vote, scheduled for Wednesday, is directly linked to the ongoing OPAPKEPE scandal, casting a shadow over the government and raising serious questions about accountability and transparency.

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Obviously, I will vote in favor of lifting immunity, because first and foremost, the MPs themselves are asking for it and it is logical, because they want to be immediately brought before their natural judge and clear any suspicion or any shadow around their name.

Deputy Minister of Labor, Kostas Karagounis, has publicly stated his intention to vote in favor of lifting the immunity. He stressed that the MPs themselves are requesting this measure, seeking an immediate opportunity to face their natural judge and clear any suspicions surrounding their names. Karagounis highlighted the 'toxicity' and 'targeting' these MPs are experiencing, suggesting they are being unfairly attacked.

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The material collected by the European Public Prosecutor's Office requires further investigation. This in itself recommends that it should go to an investigation process in order to assign potential involvements.

However, the opposition parties, PASOK and SYRIZA, have voiced strong criticism, accusing the government of attempting to undermine public trust in the judicial system. PASOK MP Evangelia Liakouli pointed out that the immunity requests stem from the European Public Prosecutor's Office, not the opposition, and that the material collected requires further investigation. SYRIZA MP Kostas Barkas echoed these sentiments, arguing that statements by Adonis Georgiadis, which questioned the objectivity of the European Public Prosecutor, constitute a direct attack on the judiciary. Both opposition parties believe New Democracy is trying to shield its members by leveraging opposition votes, a move they deem unacceptable.

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The European Public Prosecutor's Office has been integrated into the organizational chart of the Greek justice system, thus into a constitutional power. Therefore, the government has withdrawn its trust in the Greek justice system. This is what Mr. Georgiadis is doing with his direct interventions. Mr. Georgiadis is even blackmailing Mrs. Papandreou, whose term has been renewed, by saying that there is control by the Judicial Council. This is not true, but it is blackmail.