The Fotini Arabatzi deconstructed the charges in Proanalysis, denouncing an attempt at political smear and defending the right of MPs to support citizens.
In a climate of intense political and emotional tension, the meeting for the establishment of a preliminary investigation committee was held, with New Democracy’s Serron MP, Fotini Arabatzi, going on a powerful deconstruction of the narrative against her.
Mrs. Arabatzi did not take to the floor of Parliament to apologize, but to confront a strategy that, she argued, was based for months on mud and public incrimination without evidence. In an aggressive but entirely structured argument, she presented documents and specific facts, constantly reiterating the basic question: “Where is the offence?“.
The former Deputy Minister of Rural Development made it clear that the whole case lacks legal and substantive basis, stressing, “For 5 months I have been banging on about a non-existent act, about zero damage“.
She insisted that there was not a single euro of illegal payment or evidence of personal benefit, completely reversing the pressure on the opposition and pointing out that “we are not setting up preliminary investigations to look if there is an offence“.
He even accused PASOK and Syriazas of being motivated by motives of political corruption rather than the search for truth.
At the same time, Arabatzi pointed to the danger of the elimination of parliamentarianism. She argued that if an MP’s communication with the administration on citizens’ problems is criminalized, then the very role of the elected representative of the district is nullified. He thus raised a deep concern about whether a reasonable concern for the efficient and humane treatment of producers constitutes criminal misconduct.
At the end of the session, some in the House felt that Ms. Arabatzi not only withstood the pressure, but walked out of the chamber having regained the political ground that for months had been attempted to be taken away.
