The legal case of Panagiotis Doudonis and journalist Vassilis Chiotis brings to the fore the issue of the boundaries between political criticism, journalism and legal actions.
The intense debate that has erupted between PASOK MP Panagiotis Doudonis and journalist Vassilis Chiotis highlights in a sharp way the delicate balance between political public criticism and the legal limits of journalistic expression. The sending of an email by the member of parliament to the journalist, on the occasion of public reports and commentary, triggered a new cycle of reactions in the media and in social media, opening up a wider debate on whether political reactions to journalistic speech can be considered a legitimate institutional reaction or a form of pressure. The case has already taken dimensions beyond the initial event, as it implicates issues of press freedom, public debate and protection of personal data, while demonstrating the climate of tension that often forms in the relationship between political power and MMEs in Greece.
The complaint and lawsuit sent to him by PASOK MP Panagiotis Doudonis was published by journalist and director of the SKAI radio station, Vassilis Chiotis.
The comment
In his social media comment, Mr. Chiotis, who comes from Lesvos like Pan. Doudonis, wrote mockingly: “As we say on our island, ‘There goes he, he burned his little field’…”
Specifically, Vassilis Chiotis posted the out-of-court letter sent to him by Panagiotis Doudonis – “There goes he, he burned his little field…”
He even commented ironically by showing the excerpt of the out-of-court letter: “A calm voice in the new generation of politicians. Without persecution syndromes.”
The quote
Excerpt from the excerpt I received from PASOK MP Panagiotis Doudonis.
A cool voice in the new generation of politicians.
Without persecution syndromes…
Soon after, the PASOK MP announced in a post that he would also file a complaint against Mr. Chiotis for not hiding his address and VAT number when publishing the lawsuit and the lawsuit.
‘”Mr. Chiotis, to the lawsuit and complaint add a complaint that I will be filing with the Data Protection Authority (you know, the one you have systematically discredited) for a personal data breach in relation to TIN and address. Because you have probably gone completely out of your panic,” wrote Pan. Dudonis.
Mr. Chiotis, to the lawsuit and the lawsuit add a complaint that I will file with the Data Protection Authority (you know, the one you systematically discredited) for a personal data breach in relation to TIN and address. Because you’ve probably gotten away with it…
In response, Vassilis Chiotis wrote mockingly, “Since you took the time to write a complaint against me to animal welfare organizations? When I was going to elementary school, I chased a cat in the schoolyard…”
Since you’ve taken the time to make a complaint against me to animal welfare organizations?
When I was in elementary school, I was chased by a cat in the schoolyard…
The chronicle of the controversy
It all started when SKAI radio director Vassilis Chiotis said on his show that Mr. Dudonis is pressuring the Lt. Rural Development to compensate local livestock farmers on Lesvos for the foot-and-mouth disease that has hit the island.
In response, Pan. Doudonis made a post attacking Vassilis Chiotis whom he accused of “equating our struggle and my struggle to prevent our island from being destroyed by foot-and-mouth disease with the illegal buffers of Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ New Democracy. Let’s talk about propaganda and the causes of the destruction of our island by the government’s complete indifference. Shame!”
In response, Vassilis Chiotis publicly asked Doudonis: “Can you tell us who you spoke to at the Ministry of Rural Development and what exactly did you ask for? Because if you asked for something that violates the current legislation, then this is a buffoonery with criminal consequences…”
In his new reply, the PASOK MP said: “I expect a public rebuttal, apology and restoration of the truth from Mr Chiotis, journalist, director of SKAI 100.3 radio station, otherwise I will sue him for slander and I will sue him for defamation of character.”
