The way the Greek authorities are handling the unfolding wiretapping scandal is alarming and indicates that the country is “already on an advanced path towards an autocratic state”, an influential Austrian EU lawmaker from the Socialist and Democrats told EURACTIV.
“I have pointed out several times that the way the Greek government and Prime Minister Mitsotakis deal with ‘Predatorgate’ will show whether Greece is heading towards autocracy,” Hannes Heide said. He is the S&D coordinator in the European Parliament’s PEGA committee that is looking into the matter.
“The way the Greek authorities are handling the clarification of the matter is an alarm signal that the country is already on an advanced path towards an autocratic state,” he warned on Wednesday (11 January).
In the so-called “Greek Watergate” scandal, several politicians, journalists and businessmen have been surveilled by Greek secret services, which are under the control of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (EPP) and his conservative cabinet.
The scandal, which has resonated across Europe and in the European Parliament, is seen as an open wound for the country, particularly ahead of the upcoming general elections expected in spring.
Mitsotakis has so far tried to keep his distance, saying he was unaware of the wiretapping cases, although the first law he enacted as prime minister in 2019 was to place secret services under his remit.
Earlier on Wednesday, EURACTIV reported that the Greek chief prosecutor Isidoros Ntogiakos had issued an opinion stating that the country’s privacy watchdog – the Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy (ADAE) – cannot conduct audits on telecommunication companies to find out which citizens are under surveillance.
And if the watchdog still choose to do so, it would risk criminal penalties, according to Ntogiakos.
Chief prosecutor puts Greece’s rule of law to the test
Greek chief prosecutor Isidoros Ntogiakos caused shockwaves on Tuesday after he ruled that the independent authority responsible for privacy issues (ADAE) cannot conduct audits to telecommunication companies to find out who is under surveillance by Greek secret services.
The prosecutor’s opinion triggered a wave of reactions from all opposition parties, members of the ruling New Democracy party, and legal experts and officials.
On the political part, MEP Heide, criticised the radio silence of the European Commission.
“The silence of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Greek Vice-President Margaritis Schinas on the developments for which the conservative government in Greece is responsible is massively damaging the credibility of the European Union,” Heide told EURACTIV.
Von der Leyen and Schinas had both been members of EPP parties in their respective countries before taking up jobs in the EU.
Heide also noted that the illegal surveillance and spying on journalists and the opposition is a breach of our EU values and principles enshrined in our Treaty.
“I expect the Commission to take actions to defend the rule of law and media freedom in Greece and Europe. We can no longer stand by and watch member state governments undermine European values and, above all, the principles of the rule of law,” the Austrian MEP concluded.
His Dutch colleague Sophie in ‘t Veld from the centrist Renew Europe group, also said that attempts by the Greek chief prosecutor to block investigations into the use of spyware are very “alarming”.
“The scandal has been festering for too long already, it is code red for democracy and the rule of law. ADAE must get full backing for its work”, she tweeted.
[Edited by Zoran Radosavljevic]
Source: euractiv.com
