Greek opposition leader accuses government of targeting, criticizes handling of firefighter deaths

Zoi Konstantopoulou, president of the Plevsi Eleftherias party, accused the government of orchestrating a "very specific targeting operation" against her during a parliamentary session. She specifically addressed comments made by "blue" (New Democracy) MP Dimitris Kyriazidis, questioning why the party retained him. "When Mrs. Bakoyannis was asked 'why did you take Kyriazidis back?', she said 'okay, he didn't commit any crime.' Do we have to reach an actual crime to remove him?" Konstantopoulou asked, challenging the government's inaction.

Konstantopoulou further questioned the Prime Minister's Office's silence on what she termed an "extreme attack" and demanded to know how the New Democracy party could keep "such a misogynist, sexist" within its ranks. She expressed disbelief that the government would assume the issue would be forgotten, vowing to ensure it would not be, and noted that many others in parliament would also prevent it from being forgotten.

The Plevsi Eleftherias leader alleged that as a parliamentary leader, she had faced not only sexist attacks but also "homicidal campaigns against her personality." She then shifted focus to the recent deaths of three firefighters in blazes in Rethymno and Gythio, stating that seasonal firefighters, one of whom died, were "brutally beaten" under Deputy Minister Turnas. Konstantopoulou criticized Turnas for calling five-year contract firefighters, one of whom died, the "destruction of the fire service," implying that those risking their lives were seen as intruders by him.

Konstantopoulou also accused the government of spending on police forces that resemble "authoritarian regimes." She argued that democracies do not maintain such large police forces, nor do they use them to suppress political leaders, workers, or active citizens. Her remarks highlighted a sharp critique of the government's policies and actions concerning political discourse, public safety, and the treatment of emergency personnel.