Venizelos Questions Reopening of Wiretapping Case, Cites Legal Objections

Former Greek Deputy Prime Minister Evangelos Venizelos has voiced significant legal concerns regarding the decision not to reopen the wiretapping case. Speaking at the 2nd Congress of the Scientific Association of Lawyers 'The Penalists' in Thessaloniki, Venizelos questioned the legal basis for rejecting the case's revival, referencing Article 43 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. He argued that the emergence of new facts or incidents should be sufficient grounds for a case review, without the need for these to be already proven. Venizelos pointed out that the trial proceedings and evidence presented before the Single-Member Misdemeanors Court constitute a new, more comprehensive case file. He specifically questioned why interested parties, such as complainants, had not presented new facts or incidents in court. Furthermore, he expressed the opinion that there was ample justification for ordering a preliminary investigation. The former deputy prime minister also cast doubt on the application of provisions concerning the exclusion of senior judicial officials, particularly the country's top prosecutor. He expressed concern over how these articles, along with the obligation for judicial officers to declare recusal, are being interpreted and applied. Venizelos concluded by stressing that the integrity of the rule of law is primarily tested by the judiciary. He asserted that judicial officers must act with institutional neutrality, provide thorough justifications, and demonstrate genuine respect for procedural guarantees. This stance underscores a critical examination of the legal system's handling of sensitive cases and the accountability of its officials.

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Are new facts or incidents not emerging in the courtroom of the Single-Member Misdemeanors Court, and are these not being invoked by those with a legitimate interest, who can be complainants?