The rejection of the appeal filed by Laura Kovesi with the Supreme Court regarding the term of office of European prosecutors prosecutors sparked reactions within… PASOK.
The attack launched by PASOK against the Supreme Court and the Greek justice system is raising eyebrows and questions, since the party—even if only in passing—as the official opposition appeared to take a stance in favor of European Public Prosecutor and point the finger at the Supreme Court justices who handed down the decision to dismiss Kovesi’s appeal.
“Today’s decision by the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court, which rejected the appeal filed by the European Chief Prosecutor regarding the term of office of European Delegated Prosecutors, is the latest in a series of events that raise deep institutional concerns,” said PASOK MP Evangelia Liakouli, in her capacity as the relevant sector head.
“The tense situation developing with the European Public Prosecutor’s Office, with the possibility now open for an appeal to the European Court of Justice, is not in the country’s best interest,” she notes, adding that “it exposes Greece internationally, portraying it as a state in constant conflict with European supervisory bodies. This is an image that does not befit the normalcy and atmosphere of a modern European state governed by the rule of law, which must respect,protect, and facilitate independent oversight mechanisms.”
PASOK accuses the government, with Ms. Liakouli stating that “the government bears a very heavy responsibility, as its stance has contributed decisively to sparking this tension” and arguing that “when the government sets the course for undermining the auditing authorities, it is the government itself that is undermining the country’s relations with European institutions and creating the conditions for ongoing tension,” yet the decision was actually handed down by the Supreme Court, to which Laura Kovesi had appealed.
In fact, the decision to reject the appeal was passed with 72 votes in favor and 10 against in the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court by the country’s highest judicial officials.
For the record, let us recall that the country’s Supreme Judicial Council also made the decision to extend the term of the European Delegated Prosecutors by two years—not the government. In fact, it made this decision unanimously.
Therefore, when PASOK claims that this raises “institutional concern” a decision by the vast majority of the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court, it reflects the judiciary and not the government.
