Giorgos Florides has accused Nikos Androulakis of institutional malpractice and breach of privacy, raising political tensions in the Parliament.
With harsh language, personal barbs and extreme political tension, Justice Minister Giorgos Florides and PASOK President Nikos Androulakis clashed in the Parliament during the stormy debate on watching, EYP and the OPEKEPE case. The minister went on a frontal counterattack against the heavy allegations of the leader of the axiomatic opposition, calling it a serious violation of the secrecy of the Institutions and Transparency Committee, while Mr. Androulakis launched new fires against the government and the Grand Maximou, further raising the political thermometer. The clash between the two politicians turned into one of the most explosive episodes in recent months in Parliament, with both accusations of institutional aberration, dark practices and political responsibility.
In particularly high tones, the confrontation between PASOK’s president, Nikos Androulakis, and the Minister of Justice, Giorgos Florides, during the debate in the Parliament on the case of surveillance and OPEKEPE.
The attack of Androulakis
Mr. Androulakis launched a full frontal attack against the government, calling it a “party and power system emanating from the Mansion of Maximou” and “using dark and dangerous practices to maintain power”.
Referring to yesterday’s (20/5) meeting of the Institutions and Transparency Committee, he claimed that the commander of the National Security Service, Themistocles Demiris, admitted that he “does not know the reasons for the surveillance” and that “there is no recording.”
“How much longer will you deceive the Greek people? Does your political deception have limits?” he said, addressing Mr Florides, while accusing the New Democracy party of “throwing mud and insinuations” for 3.5 years because it “dared to reveal the parastate”.
He went on to say that “the truth does not harm national interests, but the lies and darkness of Megaro Maximou”, while he also attacked the speaker of the parliament, recalling statements made in 2022 about the prime minister’s briefing of the NIS. “You have no limit to viciousness,” he noted.
Turning to the issue of OPEKEPE, the PASOK president referred to the “blue gang that occupied the Organization”, claiming that “the Greece of struggling farmers and the Greece of day laborers who had a good time for free” had been revealed.
He concluded that “the politics of arrogance and negligence must become a thing of the past in the next elections”, stressing that “Greece deserves better”.
“Paid” response from Florides
In response, Justice Minister George Florides called it a “profound insult” to the secrecy provision of the Institutions and Transparency Committee.
“Discussions on the NIS are secret and members are committed to maintaining secrecy even after their term of office ends,” he stressed.
He said he would not enter into a debate on criminal responsibility, but “there are grave political responsibilities” and called the opposition’s demand that the Supreme Court prosecutor be summoned “30 days before his retirement” a “faux pas.”
Androulakis returned, saying that “national security is not threatened by a question and an answer, but the security of the New Democracy parastate” and concluded: “I will not be silent. Corruption and the parastate will pay in broad daylight.”
