The government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis stated in a television interview that he does not judge Dimitris Avramopoulos, described the process behind the warrant, and rejected allegations of corruption.
Pavlos Marinakis commented on the case involving Dimitris Avramopoulos, the European arrest warrant for Qatargate and the public debate that has developed around the case, emphasizing that he does not intend to evaluate the former commissioner’s explanations or prejudge any judicial decision.
Marinakis: I Am Not a Judge — The Position on Avramopoulos
Speaking on OPEN, Mr. Marinakis specifically stated that he is not in a position to judge the merits of the case. “I am not a judge. I will not evaluate Mr. Avramopoulos’s responses. I am neither condemning him nor acquitting him,” he said, clearly distancing himself from the legal aspects of the case.
At the same time, he emphasized that in the case of the European arrest warrant, the prescribed procedures were followed, noting that “the procedure applicable in every case was followed” and that no minister can be involved in such procedures.
How the Maximos Mansion Was Informed and the Response to Corruption
Referring to the government’s briefing, Mr. Marinakis explained that the Maximos Mansion began receiving information via phone calls and inquiries citing sources from Brussels, before the case was referred to the judiciary. As he pointed out, the prime minister has no authority to intervene in this particular process.
The government spokesperson also emphasized that all citizens are required to comply when summoned by the competent authorities, stating that “when the authorities call us, we must go,” and that this applies without exception.
Finally, he rejected allegations of widespread corruption, arguing that different cases cannot be conflated in order to construct a single political narrative. “You can’t lump everything together to construct a narrative of corruption,” he noted.
