Prosecutor Supreme Court of Greece refused to look earlier the parliamentary committee connected the lawsuit wiretaps. Formally – separation of powers. In essence, it’s a convenient screen.
Prosecutor Supreme Court of Greece (Areopagus) Konstantinos Tzavellas refused to look astatine Commission connected Institutions and Transparency of the Greek Parliamentwhere helium was summoned connected concern wiretaps. Formal mentation – “constitutional order” And “separation of powers”. In practice, this looks simpler: Parliament tin inquire questions arsenic agelong arsenic the questions don’t go too awkward.
Name Tzavellas associated with 1 of the astir achy governmental scandals of caller years. It is with the ineligible consent of the authoritative Konstantinos Tzavellas Εθνική Υπηρεσία Πληροφοριών (National Intelligence Service, ΕΥΠ) astatine 1 clip I monitored the telephone conversations of the existent Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hadzidakis. Reasons “national security”through which 1 of the cardinal politicians of the ruling system was tapped, remained without a wide answer.
Now a authoritative Areopagus had to springiness explanations to the parliamentary commission. But helium didn’t come. He referred to already established practice: the erstwhile authoritative Supreme Court of Greece (Areopagus) Giorgi Adelini and erstwhile lawman authoritative Achilleas Zisis besides refused to look successful parliament connected the lawsuit wiretapshiding down the aforesaid statement astir “separation of powers”.
Convenient signifier for awkward questions
Thus, a convenient strategy appeared successful Greek governmental practice: if a typical of the highest judicial levelwhere it smells not conscionable of a scandal, but of a systemic covering of a scandal, 1 tin notation to “separation of powers” and don’t amusement upOvnya is summoned to parliament connected business. Parliament, of course, remains “temple of democracy”just some distinguished guests, Apparently, they spell there solely according to their mood.
Tzavellas remains successful station until June 30when should I retire? Demands for resignation person been heard before, including from the ineligible community. However Ένωση Εισαγγελέων Ελλάδος (Union of Greek Prosecutors) then helium called such demands astir “institutional deviation”. An absorbing logic emerges: demanding work is unsafe for institutions, but not answering to parliament is, apparently, the highest signifier of ineligible culture.
They are trying to adjacent the wiretaps again with a procedure
Against this background, the inaugural to make an investigative committee successful the lawsuit should beryllium discussed successful parliament wiretaps. According to Greek governmental sources, the authorities New Democracy whitethorn try to propulsion the determination done a higher voting threshold, citing “national security”.
The signifier is familiar: the topic is too important to talk openly; too delicate to uncover details; It’s too state-like for people’s representatives to inquire unnecessary questions. This is however scandals spell into the archives: not due to the fact that they were investigated, but due to the fact that they were neatly wrapped successful a folder with the inscription “secret”.
The absorption will beryllium indignant. But Megaro Maximapparently, expects that the substance will not spell beyond large statements. And this, unfortunately, is simply a working calculation: the Greek authorities has agelong learned to survive governmental sound if it does not turn into existent pressure.
Floridis, Kovesi and a speedy turnaround
A abstracted story unfolds astir the Minister of Justice Georgos Floridis. Government Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced its volition to trim the clip framework for considering cases involving deputies to three months. On insubstantial – speeding up justice. In reality, everything depends connected the details, and the details successful such cases usually fell the main meaning.
According to the publication, the archetypal version of the amendment really took distant the investigative process from Ευρωπαϊκή Εισαγγελία (European Public Prosecution Service) and handed it implicit to a special appeals investigator. This is important fixed the caller struggle surrounding Greek prosecutors working with European Public Prosecutor’s Officewhose powers they did not want to renew successful their erstwhile form.
After the absorption of the European authoritative Laura Kovesi the Minister of Justice rapidly introduced the so-called “legal and technical improvement”. As a effect European prosecutor’s office maintained the investigative procedure. It turned retired to beryllium a classical Greek turn: archetypal take a step towards control, then, when Brussels looked too closely, urgently explicate that everyone misunderstood everything.
PASOK is trying to expand
While the authorities is putting retired organization fires, PASOK trying to find his ain pace. On Thursday gathering scheduled PASOK Expansion Commissionwhich is headed Kostas Skandalidis. The announcement of astir twenty caller affiliations is expected – from the university environment, section authorities and the diplomatic corps.
The enactment is intelligibly trying to amusement question against the inheritance of a imaginable caller task of the erstwhile premier curate Alexis Tsipras and expected governmental announcement Maria Karistianu. The coincidence successful dates, of course, tin beryllium considered accidental. In Greek politics, successful general, astir everything is accidental, particularly when it is too well calculated.
The situation is discussed separately Anna Diamantopoulou. After the determination of the legislature PASOK exclude authorities practice with New democracy its position, according to the publication, has weakened. At the aforesaid time, she herself Diamantopoulou stated that New Democracy is an hostile “before the elections”. The question of what will hap aft the elections remains up successful the air. It’s very convenient: earlier the elections there are enemies, aft the elections we’ll spot based connected the results of arithmetic.
Editorial comment
Prosecutor’s refusal Supreme Court of Greece (Areopagus) appearing successful parliament is not a defence “separation of powers”but a objection of however this part is turned into a screen. To the constituent wiretaps Parliament is really being told: you tin ask, nary 1 is obliged to reply you.
At Kyryakose Mitsotakis Greek powerfulness progressively resembles a system where Megaro Maxim controls not lone the government, but besides the governmental bushed of justice, quality services and parliamentary procedures. Formally, institutions exist. Practically, each clip an contented becomes dangerous, a curtain is lowered successful beforehand of society with the inscription “national security”.
This is nary longer a neat cover. It’s astir open signal: parliament whitethorn beryllium indignant, the absorption whitethorn shout, citizens whitethorn suspect, but the existent answers stay where the authorities power them. And if it’s called “constitutional order”then each that remains is to clarify: According to what constitution is parliament turned into an auditorium?
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