EU saw how Greek PM threatens rule of law, main opposition says
Greece's Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis (R) speaks during a parliament session in Athens, Greece, Aug. 26, 2022. Greek lawmakers are discussing a wiretapping scandal that has roiled the government ahead of elections due to be held next year, in a parliamentary session called following revelations that the intelligence service had bugged an opposition politician's phone. (AP Photo)


The European Union has realized how dangerous Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is regarding the rule of law, in face of the ongoing surveillance scandal, the country's main opposition party said Monday.

Citing a letter sent by the European Parliament’s special committee against illegal surveillance (PEGA) to the bloc’s police agency Europol, Nassos Iliopoulos, spokesperson of the opposition Coalition of the Radical Left – Progressive Alliance (SYRIZA-PS), said in a video statement that the letter once again shows Athens’ reluctance to clarify the illegal wiretapping scandal.

"We’re only at the beginning of the revelations and (Prime Minister Kyriakos) Mitsotakis should know the wiretapping scandal isn’t over," he said.

"Of course, he does everything to cover it up by insulting (legal and institutional) procedures and breaking laws," said Iliopoulos but added that these efforts will fail.

Wiretapping scandal

This August, Mitsotakis acknowledged that opposition Panhellenic Socialist Movement (PASOK) party leader Nikos Androulakis was wiretapped by Greece’s intel agency but denied knowledge of the operation.

The scandal emerged when National Intelligence Service (EYP) head Panagiotis Kontoleon, who later resigned, told a parliamentary committee that his agency had been spying on a financial journalist.

A parliamentary probe was launched after Androulakis complained to top prosecutors about an attempt to hack his cellphone using Predator software.

Opposition parties blame Mitsotakis for the scandal and have called for his government to hold snap elections, something he refuses.

The European Commission and European Parliament are closely monitoring developments related to the scandal.