MEP calls for ‘clarity’ on Greek Watergate before elections

By Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com

01-02-2023

Tensions escalated earlier this week, when Syriza spokeswoman Popi Tsapanidou said the Greek PM "may know secrets of Androulakis and can blackmail him", thus affecting the post-election coalition talks. [European Parliament]

Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram

The investigation over the Greek wiretapping scandal should be completed before the national elections so "any shadow of a doubt is lifted", Dutch MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld told EURACTIV amid concerns in Athens that some politicians whose phone was bugged may be blackmailed, potentially affecting the post-election coalition talks.

Sophie in ‘t Veld is a Dutch EU lawmaker from the centrist Renew Europe group of the European Parliament. She is also the rapporteur for the Committee of Inquiry to investigate the use of Pegasus and equivalent surveillance spyware (PEGA) and has been following closely the so-called "Greek Watergate" scandal, in which politicians, businessmen and journalists have been wiretapped by secret services.

The scandal has shaken Greek politics and has created a toxic atmosphere before the next national elections due to take place by the summer.

Following a request by main opposition leader Alexis Tsipras (EU Left), Greece's privacy watchdog, the Hellenic Authority for Communication Security and Privacy (ADAE), confirmed last week that Labour Minister Kostis Chatzidakis, the head of armed forces Konstantinos Floros and three high-profile military personnel had been put under surveillance by the secret services.

The opposition parties pushed the government to reveal the reasons behind the surveillance. For now, the government refuses to do so, citing national security reasons. Meanwhile, the secret services are under the control of the conservative Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (EPP), according to a law he enacted when he took over the country's leadership.

"I consider it a major institutional diversion and destruction of the framework of the Armed Forces to put under surveillance the heads of the defence, the leadership of the Armed Forces and the heads of the armament programs under the responsibility of the Prime Minister," Syriza leader Tsipras told EURACTIV Greece at a press conference on Tuesday.

At the same press conference, Tsipras announced that from now on, his party would abstain from the parliament's legislation procedures and asked the PM to resign and call snap elections immediately.

The fear of blackmail

The scandal erupted last summer when MEP and leader of the socialist party (Pasok) Nikos Androulakis found that secret services bugged his phone.

Analysts suggest that Pasok, which steadily ranks third in polls, will be a kingmaker's role in the next elections as a new electoral law will be implemented.

In the second round of the elections, to form a single-party government, a party should get 38% of the vote. The average of current polls suggests that a coalition government will be inevitable. Yet, several analysts question the projected ranking of New Democracy, claiming that it is lower than the current polls suggest.

Ruling New Democracy party (EPP) ranks first, followed by Syriza (EU Left) and Pasok (S&D). Pasok should, therefore, pick either New Democracy or Syriza to form a government.

Tensions escalated earlier this week when Syriza spokeswoman Popi Tsapanidou said the Greek prime minister "may know secrets of Androulakis and can blackmail him", thus affecting the post-election coalition talks.

Pasok reacted strongly, saying this is nonsense, although the leader's party admitted earlier this year that his phone was bugged "because some want to keep Pasok a hostage".

Tsipras said on Tuesday that the government's surveillance on ministers, heads of the armed forces, MEPs and journalists had produced "rich" material which can be used to blackmail the political and economic system in the next five years.

MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld told EURACTIV that the scandal should be sorted out before the elections.

"As we have indicated already in our draft report, it is vital that complete clarity is provided before the elections and that any shadow of a doubt is lifted. The matter must be fully and immediately investigated," the Dutch MEP said.

"I welcome in this respect the current investigation carried out by the ADAE and the Hellenic Data Protection Authority (DPA). PEGA has decided to invite them in February to give us an update on the matter," she added.

(Sarantis Michalopoulos | EURACTIV.com)

Print Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Telegram