Questions “to be answered by the Prime Minister” in the PASOK-Movement for Change president phone tapping case, Nikos Androulakisparty spokesman Dimitris Manzos asked.

Speaking to SKAI, Mr. Manzos said the prime minister “should look citizens in the face and answer: who ordered the surveillance, for what purpose, with what motivation? Why was a Greek MEP, candidate for the leadership of the third parliamentary party, considered a national security suspect, and how did that threat end when Mr. Androulakis was elected president? After all, how much of a coincidence is the timing between EYP and Predator?”

As he noted, “what we hear today from the government in the form of narratives is absolutely intolerable and unacceptable.”

“I wonder if they weighed the narratives and thought it was the least painful thing for democracy in our country?” It is possible that we are told that they did not know when we have two key July 2019 elections, from the prime minister himself, when – I read the minutes of parliament – the entire opposition then criticized the personal choice of Condoleontos and the reduction in the formal qualification of the appointment. And when it was decided to include the EMP in the office of the Prime Minister. It is the prime minister’s choice in state law to have full control over the actions of EYP. Three years later, they tell us they were out of control. They didn’t have information. In other words, EYP functioned like an open vine in the prime minister’s office. EYP operated in the absence of the Hellenic Republic, without any legalization. That’s what they tell us,” he added.

A spokesman for PASOK-Movement for Change concluded his speech by stressing: “We reiterate that the Greek Prime Minister had the EPM under his personal responsibility and political control, which was confirmed and confirmed by the Greek MEP. There is no excuse for the unforgivable. He must now not look at N. Androulakis, not at PASOK, but at citizens, look them in the face and tell them who ordered surveillance, with what direction, with what motivation?

Mr. Konstantinopoulos: “Waiting for answers”

Odysseas Konstantinopoulos, Vice-President of the Parliament, also mentioned the surveillance of Nikos Androulakis in an interview with the Mega news channel.

“In early September 2021, the EYP started following Mr. Androulakis. Ten days later, an attempt was made to infect his mobile phone through the Predator system, which is a mobile robotic system that can monitor the user at any time, the user loses privacy, his personal moments. An attempt to intercept a cell phone through the Predator failed, and then EYP received an extension to continue surveillance, ”he said.

Mr. Konstantinopoulos recalled that the EMP was created by law under the Prime Minister and noted:

“Thus, while the EMP was following N. Androulakis shortly before he was elected president of the third party, an attempt was made to trap him with the Predator software, which is illegal. It is important to note that those who took such action had a correct understanding at the time of who would be the next leader of PASOK. Therefore, they realized that the elections could overturn political associations, which happened,” he said.

According to Mr. Konstantinopoulos, “there are two questions that the Prime Minister must answer today: first, why is Mr. Androulakis under surveillance?” What was said about the involvement of Armenia and Ukraine in Greece was solemnly refuted by the embassies. N. Androulakis demands the vote of the Greek people so that the truth does not come out. Second, very important question: why are these companies using Predator software in Greece?” he stressed.

“It is still very sad that in the past few days we have seen a corresponding toxicity in the public debate that dominated the SYRIZA-ANEL era and was driven by extreme right-wing circles, with which both the current government and the previous government cooperated wonderfully,” he noted.

“It is also important,” he later said, “to adhere to the fact that the EMP not only was placed under the Prime Minister, but the list of qualifications was changed to bring him to Mr. Contoleon, who ten days ago shamelessly lied to the Committee on Institutions and transparency, emphasizing that Mr. Androulakis is not under surveillance. So in this case, it’s not about mistreatment, it’s about purposefulness, and we’re waiting for the prime minister’s response to that.”

Mr. Konstantinopoulos emphasized that “N. Androulakis was elected by 300,000 citizens. Nobody will stop us. Our strength is ordinary people, and we move forward together with them, with no one else. An attempt to discredit N. Androulakis will not work. The government cannot continue to rely on disinformation and trolls. There are rules governing transparency. It is expected that N. Androulakis will ask for the votes of citizens in the upcoming elections. That’s why there is no way to leave room for shadows. Our President does not want to hide anything, and we are making this clear. We respect justice and will not allow anyone like Mr. Romanos to tarnish this great effort that we have been making for so long,” Mr. Konstantinopoulos emphasized and concluded his interview by stating:

“Finally, it is very serious to watch what is happening with the Predator, to insist on it, because it threatens democracy and potentially every government official, journalist, citizen. The company has contracts with the public since 2018, and we need to get clear answers about its actions.”