“The government is trying to keep the process for the OPECEP to fast, institutional standards, and there is a brawl with PASOK over Independent Authorities.” as Giorgos Papaconstantinou says in protothema.gr.
The PASOK proposal to set up a Preliminary Investigation Committee at OPEKEPE has surprised the government, but it is clear that it is not prepared to take a defensive position on the case. As a guide, it would seem that the activation of the Karamanlis-Triandopoulos “model” could be the way forward: i.e. a speedy, institutionally clean process to close the matter without prolonged political attrition. In the early hours, there had been no lengthy, internal discussion in Maximou, something that is expected to happen in this morning’s coffee, with the assessment of the “dossier”, which includes all the data and observations of the central staff.
The assessment
A first-time interlocutor of Kyriakos Mitsotakis, noted that the PASOK proposal “adds nothing beyond what is included in the European Public Prosecutor’s Office’s transmittal”. The same person also pointed out, as a paradox, the fact that Nikos Androulakis, although he had just spoken in Parliament, made no mention of the issue. Moreover, the timing itself, that the opposition party chose to pull this parliamentary weapon out of its quiver by submitting its proposal on the eve of May Day, is also recorded as unusual.
On the other side of the coin, there is the field of internal debate. On the one hand, there is the stance of Fotini Arabatzi who has chosen the preliminary investigation route. On the other hand, the clearly differentiated position of Spilios Livanos who is not on the same wavelength, i.e. to be indicted with a prosecution by the Parliament. “The information I will provide will reverse the irresponsible initiative of PASOK,” said the former minister, indicating that he is coming to Parliament determined.
The PASOK proposal and the attitude of others
In the text of the proposal, the PASOK MPs cite the documentation and speak of “serious indications of active participation” of OPEKEPE and YPAT officials. Spilios Livanos and Fotini Arabatzi are at the centre of this, for whom it is claimed that evidence has emerged that requires investigation by the Parliament under Article 86 of the Constitution. PASOK is calling for an investigation into whether there was an exertion of influence on the president of OPEKEPE, Dimitris Melas, that led to illegal preferential treatment of producers with a financial footprint for the public and the EU.
The political context makes it difficult for the parties to reject a proposal that directly targets the government. PASOK did not need a dialogue – it has the 30 signatures – but the substance is in the 151 in the plenary. SYRIZA is expected to toe the line of pressure on the government, while the smaller parties will weigh the institutional weight of the case against the possibility of generalized polarization. This front will be decided in the coming days, with the government attempting to keep the process to fast, institutional standards.
The brawl
The picture is complicated by the government-PASOK brawl over the Independent Authorities. Government sources are photographing Nikos Androulakis for a “comeback” with Zoe Konstantopoulou, after the latter’s heated argument with Panagiotis Doudonis in the committee. The government staff said the PASOK president had pre-decided to torpedo the presidential selection process, “in collusion with populist forces”, at a time when for the first time an open call for interest for top institutional positions was being implemented.
