The centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) is struggling to water down a draft report by liberal Dutch MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld on the Greek “Watergate” scandal, which has put the New Democracy (EPP) government in Athens to the test.
The Dutch EU lawmaker, who is the rapporteur of the PEGA committee, presented on Tuesday a draft report on a scandal that has shaken Greek politics after it was found that the phones of several politicians, journalists and business people were bugged with the illegal Predator spyware
The report lashes out at the Greek centre-right government on its role in the scandal as the latter insists that no public authority has purchased the spyware. In an interview with ANT1 TV, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said Predator exists in Greece, but it’s used by private individuals.
“The hypothesis of private actors behind the Predator attacks is moreover highly implausible, as it would not explain the choice of targets,” the draft report reads.
“Both Greek intelligence services [EYP] and the government categorically deny that Predator has ever been purchased or used by the Greek authorities. Despite the fact that the use of spyware is illegal in Greece, there does not appear to be a vigorous search for the origins of the spyware attacks,” the report adds.
The report also refers to the elections due next year, saying the situation should be urgently clarified “so as not to cast any doubt on the integrity of the elections in 2023.”
A ‘mini coup d’etat’
After a press conference held by Sophie in ‘t Veld to present the draft report, New Democracy MEP Anna-Michelle Assimakopoulou issued a statement saying a “mini parliamentary coup d’etat” took place.
“PEGA committee rapporteur, Sophie In t’Veld, in a “mini parliamentary coup d’etat”, held a press conference presenting her accusations entitled ‘me, myself and I’, with complete disregard to the opinions of her colleagues and standard parliamentary procedure,” Asimakopoulou said.
“The draft extrapolates using hypotheses and scenarios which lack foundation, truth and factual evidence,” the Greek MEP added.
Similarly, Jeroen Lenaers, the president of PEGA committee (EPP), said the report was not the final one emphasising that all members of the PEGA committee will have the opportunity to present amendments to the draft report.
EPP cornered
Speaking to EURACTIV on condition of anonymity, an EU lawmaker from PEGA committee said In t’Veld’s findings “express the majority of the committee”.
“Renew Europe, Greens, leftist GUE and Socialists support these findings”, the MEP said.
But the EU lawmaker added that the EPP will put much pressure on the Dutch MEP to play down the issue in order to “save the EPP’s last stronghold in Athens”.
The MEP also projected that this pressure may come from French President Emmanuel Macron, whose party belongs to Renew Europe, considering his close ties with Mitsotakis.
Referring to the visit of PEGA to Athens last week, the MEP said the committee’s chief Lenaers is a “decent politician” who “does not want to lose his dignity”.
“During that visit, all MEPs – including the ones from EPP – expressed doubts over the reasons why the majority of New Democracy lawmakers did not invite in the Greek parliament’s inquiry committee the companies who purchased Predator, the head of Mitsotakis’ office or the secrete services chief who both resigned after the scandal”, the MEP said.
Following the revelations that the socialist opposition leader Nikos Androulakis was under surveillance by secret services, both the head of Mitsotakis’ office, who was also his nephew, and the chief of secret services resigned.
Both men have so far denied to reveal the reasons why the surveillance took place, invoking the “national security” argument.
(Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com)
Source: euractiv.com
