2025-07-03 12:43:42 by Protothema.gr

A heated confrontation took place in the Greek Parliament between Minister of Health Adonis Georgiadis and PASOK President Nikos Androulakis over the OPEKEPE case. Androulakis accused the government of being caught “red-handed” and announced a forthcoming proposal to launch a preliminary parliamentary investigation. In response, Georgiadis warned PASOK not to act like “innocent doves” and hinted at “powerful protectors” behind PASOK’s political moves. “The government is trying to normalize its own corruption. You were caught red-handed and claim these things have been happening for 40 years. People voted for you in 2019 to avoid the same mistakes that led us into the bailout era,” Androulakis said. Addressing Health Minister Georgiadis, he added: “You claim that we from eastern Crete should have known about the scandal, while those from western Crete supposedly knew nothing. We were the ones who exposed this scandal. Since 2020, we’ve submitted questions about it. I personally raised the issue before EU supervision began. Were we supposed to be clairvoyants? No, but we knew disaster was coming. Back then, Avgenakis said I had an odd obsession with OPEKEPE.” He concluded by announcing: “In the face of this political rot, PASOK will submit a proposal for a preliminary investigation targeting ND ministers, based on the case file from the European Public Prosecutor’s Office.” Georgiadis: “Do you think we’ve forgotten how Crete turned green under PASOK?” Georgiadis fired back, mocking PASOK’s legacy and referencing an old agricultural scandal: “Do you seriously think people hear the words ‘PASOK’ and ‘corruption’ and don’t burst out laughing? Or have we all developed Alzheimer’s and forgotten how Crete turned green — literally and politically — through PASOK’s sectoral organizations?” He warned Androulakis to be more cautious when attacking ND MPs, and took aim at PASOK MP Mr. Chnaris from Zoniana, asking rhetorically: “Did he notice nothing?”Which led to Chnaris shouting back:“You’re a liar!” Georgiadis retorted: “What lie did I say? Mr. Androulakis, to come here and pretend to be innocent exceeds every limit of audacity.” He also stressed that any funds wrongfully distributed via OPEKEPE would be recovered by the state. Androulakis Fires Back: “You rebranded yourself for a seat” Androulakis launched a fresh attack, questioning Georgiadis’s credibility and past affiliations: “You used to go on Karatzaferis’ TV channel every night, calling ND the most corrupt party. But you took it all back for a seat in government. Now you say the people laugh at me and not at ND’s own ‘Jimmy Jump’?” He continued: “This is an unprecedented case file. It speaks of a criminal organization involving candidates for MP and close associates of Prime Minister Mitsotakis. We read transcripts saying things like, ‘Avgenakis put me there,’ ‘he’s Lefteris’ friend,’ ‘as long as Makis is in the PM’s office, don’t worry,’ or ‘I called Grigoris to take me to Pitsilis.’ Who is this Grigoris? Grigoris… from the sandwich shop?” Georgiadis: “Are you trying to impress your protector again?” The back-and-forth continued with Georgiadis defending his switch to ND during Greece’s first bailout and turning the tables: “Now wiretapping and surveillance is okay? You’re quoting wiretaps and making jokes, but to me, it sounds like you’re once again trying to pass a test set by your… ‘high-level protector’ — someone who doesn’t like Grigoris. Is it the same protector who convinced you to oppose private universities and now you come here playing smart?” Androulakis countered: “ND’s local party bosses casually talk about the Prime Minister, and you act like it’s no big deal? We stayed in PASOK when it was on the verge of extinction. I stayed because I believed it was being treated unfairly — and still do. What is Georgiadis saying now? That he’s smart because he jumps like a rat from ship to ship and still manages to stay in Parliament?” To which Georgiadis responded: “You’re calling me a rat? And you’re saying this with Ms. Thraskia from SYRIZA sitting right next to you — your own party switch. You had a rat sitting next to you, Mr. Androulakis. But you said nothing about your own ‘protector.’” Ask me anything Explore related questions > Economy Greece is not the European prosecutor Kövesi’s “best customer” – Who are the champions of resource mismanagement What the European Public Prosecutor's Office is investigating, amid the spotlight on OPEKEPE – Which countries lead in resource mismanagement according to an official report July 7, 2025 Beijing moves to impose tariffs on European brandy July 4, 2025 Athens Stock Exchange rises for the second week in a row – It consolidates above 1,900 points July 4, 2025 Athens Stock Exchange: The “stronghold” of 1,900 points fell after 15 years – Gains of more than 30% this year July 3, 2025 Hatzidakis: The next milestones are tax cuts, the fight against the deep state, the evaluation, and the plan for water scarcity July 3, 2025