Main opposition leader Nikos Androulakis called for immediate snap elections on Thursday, accusing the government of undermining democracy to conceal a widening web of scandals, as a European investigation into subsidy fraud widened to include more members of the New Democracy government and MPs.
Speaking in Parliament, the PASOK leader described the current political climate as a “dystopia,” claiming that corruption is rooted in the “heart of the Maximos Mansion,” in a direct swipe at Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Androulakis accused the center-right government of refusing to hold a debate on the new investigation into the scandal surrounding the OPEKEPE agricultural payments agency, but also on the wiretapping affair, which involved the installation of illegal spyware on phones belonging to prominent journalists and politicians, including Androulakis himself.
“Elections are the only solution,” Androulakis said, dismissing a potential cabinet reshuffle as a mere “cover-up.”
Androulakis further accused the ruling New Democracy party of violating parliamentary procedure and manipulating investigative committees. He said the government’s “ruthless” power system is stalling for time to avoid fallout from recent rulings and international pressure.