Political change is much needed in Greece after it was found that the phone of socialist opposition leader Nikos Androulakis was bugged by the national secret services, Iratxe García, the leader of the Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, told EURACTIV.
The scandal, which made headlines in late July, triggered strong reactions in Athens and has put Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ conservative government to the test.
Since then, the head of Greece’s intelligence service and the chief of Mitsotakis’ office have stepped down, but the government maintains the prime minister was unaware of the scandal. This denial has been hard to believe for some, as the first law passed by the prime minister was one bringing the secret services under his personal remit.
“According to the latest developments, it seems quite clear that Prime Minister Mitsotakis owes strong and clear explanations to Greek citizens and parties on his knowledge and responsibility on this scandal,” García said.
“This is also why our sister party in Greece has already asked for the creation of a special committee of inquiry to determine any kind of responsibility,” she added.
This week, an extraordinary Greek House meeting has been scheduled for the conservative government to explain why the secret services bugged the socialist leader’s phone.
Further revelations are expected on 24 August, as the new secret services chief hinted during a parliament session that other politicians or journalists might have their devices bugged by secret services.
“I have the full control of the secret services for the last 15 days, a priori no one is exempted [from bugging]”, he said without further clarifications.
For the Spanish politician, at the EU level, a national intelligence service illegally tapping the phone of a leader of the opposition and MEP is “a breach of the rule of law and principles of democracy enshrined in our Treaty”.
“There might have also been a breach of Mr Androulakis’ parliamentary immunity, vital to ensure the independence and integrity of the European Parliament as a whole. This is why I have called on the President of the European Parliament to urgently request that the Greek authorities undertake a full investigation as well as disclose the reasons behind the surveillance,” she said.
A tough end for Mitsotakis?
In Athens, all progressive opposition parties have condemned Mitsotakis over the scandal.
The main opposition, leftist Syriza party and socialist Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (Pasok) have adopted a common line. Many suggest that this could be a pre-taste of a progressive government after the next general elections.
The next elections are expected in a year; however, the pressure is mounting on Mitsotakis to resign and call for a snap election.
Asked if this incident could bring Syriza and Pasok closer to a coalition government, García replied.
“It is not my role to get into internal politics or to anticipate scenarios after national elections. What is clear for the European progressive family is that Greece needs a political change led by the Pan-Hellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK)”.
EPP, Von der Leyen remain silent
The official position of the European Commission was reported by EURACTIV on 27 July, when a Commission spokesperson said, “Any attempts by national security services to illegally access data of citizens, including journalists and political opponents, if confirmed, is unacceptable.”
But the European People’s Party, which Mitsotakis’ New Democracy party is affiliated with, and EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen – also an EPP member – have remained silent on the matter.
However, both von der Leyen and EPP chief Manfred Weber issued statements during this period congratulating the government for the end of the Greek economy’s EU surveillance mechanism imposed several years ago as part of bailouts.
An EPP source, who spoke to EURACTIV on condition of anonymity, estimated that Mitsotakis was “lucky” as the scandal was unveiled in the middle of summer.
The same source added that New Democracy is considered the strongest EPP member currently in power in Europe, and therefore, the political backing of the EPP leadership should be expected.
“They will not shoot their last stronghold,” the source said, adding that the scandal could affect the personal ambitions of Mitsotakis to seek an “international role” in his political career after he leaves the prime minister’s office.
[Edited by Alice Taylor]
Source: euractiv.com
