Former deputy minister for climate crisis and civil protection Christos Triantopoulos (center) speaks with another lawmaker in Parliament, on March 3. [Ismini Vlassopoulou/Intime News]
A high-stakes political battle has erupted in Greece over the government’s handling of a parliamentary inquiry, with opposition parties accusing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis of avoiding scrutiny.
The controversy centers on the case of Christos Triantopoulos, a government official whose legal fate was expected to be determined by a parliamentary committee.
However, Triantopoulos requested a direct referral to the judicial council, bypassing the committee’s full investigative process.
Government sources lauded the move as courageous, arguing that judicial officials, rather than politically motivated lawmakers, should handle the case.
Opposition parties, however, called the maneuver a clear attempt to shield top officials from accountability.
“Whatever the inquiry committee can do, the judicial council can also do,” said government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis. “The only difference? In one case, the process is political. In the other, it is led by impartial judges.”
Critics, including PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis, dismissed this argument.
“We paved the way for this to go before the natural judge. The referral will happen according to the Constitution, not based on New Democracy’s media games,” he said.
SYRIZA leader Sokratis Famellos accused Mitsotakis of dodging responsibility: “He’ll do anything to avoid the inquiry committee, to avoid testifying himself.”
As tensions flared in Parliament, opposition lawmakers vowed to keep pressing for a full inquiry. The communist KKE party called the move “obviously yet another episode in the cover-up operation,” while smaller parties echoed concerns about legal loopholes.
Meanwhile, the victims’ group “Tempe 2023” issued a legal complaint, demanding the inquiry proceed as planned.
“This is a complete violation of the Constitution and the rule of law,” the group stated.
With emotions running high, the battle over Greece’s latest political scandal is far from over.