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Greek lawmaker faces ethics probe over attack on female colleague
🇬🇷 Greece /Elections & Politics

Greek lawmaker faces ethics probe over attack on female colleague

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Greek lawmaker Dimitris Kyriazidis is referred to the Ethics Committee for an attack on Zoi Konstantopoulou.
  • Kyriazidis claims Konstantopoulou has been attacking him and his family for months, misinterpreting his words as a "wish."
  • The incident has drawn criticism, with the Culture Minister calling the lawmaker's remarks "unacceptable."

Dimitris Kyriazidis, a lawmaker from Greece's New Democracy party, faces referral to the Ethics Committee following an attack on Zoi Konstantopoulou, president of the Plevsi Eleftherias party. The decision was made by Parliament President Nikitas Kaklamanis.

I am slandered because she tried to distort, misinterpret, adulterate a reference of mine, a wish of mine.

— Dimitris KyriazidisDefending his earlier comments and accusing Konstantopoulou of misrepresentation.

Kyriazidis reignited a controversy from months prior, when he told Konstantopoulou to "go have a child." He claims Konstantopoulou has been subjecting him to "abusive and slanderous attacks" for ten months. Kyriazidis insists his earlier remark was a "wish" that she misinterpreted. He accused her of distorting his words and falsely labeling New Democracy lawmakers as "criminals, murderers, child molesters, and pederasts."

She has been subjecting me to abusive and slanderous attacks for ten months.

— Dimitris KyriazidisDescribing the alleged ongoing harassment from Konstantopoulou.

He stated that Konstantopoulou's accusations have impacted his family, recounting that his daughter cried after hearing at school that her father was a criminal. Kyriazidis alleged that Konstantopoulou tried to exploit the presence of students in Parliament and used him as a tool for "easy viewership."

My daughter cried because at school she heard that her father is a criminal.

— Dimitris KyriazidisExplaining the personal impact of Konstantopoulou's accusations.

The lawmaker's statements prompted strong reactions from opposition benches. Even the Culture Minister, Lina Mendoni, representing the government, deemed Kyriazidis's remarks "unacceptable." The Ethics Committee will now review the case and decide on the matter.

unacceptable

— Lina MendoniDescribing Kyriazidis's remarks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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