Androulakis: The parliament became a 'laundry' for Karamanlis' criminal liabilities

Main opposition PASOK-KINAL leader Nikos Androulakis on Thursday accused the prime minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, of turning Parliament into a "laundry service" of any criminal liabilities that former New Democracy transport minister Kostas Karamanlis and other officials may have for the tragic Tempi train collision.

"Yesterday, with the prime minister’s endorsement, parliament became a laundry for the criminal liabilities of Mr. Karamanlis and the political figures involved in the Tempi tragedy. Why are the gentlemen of New Democracy accusing the four parties? Because they effectively created a charge of high treason that has nothing to do with the case file brought before Parliament. And what did New Democracy do? Exactly the same. New Democracy submitted a proposal for a preliminary investigation committee to examine a misdemeanour charge against Mr. Karamanlis, which has absolutely no connection to the Bakaimis case file,” commented Androulakis regarding the outcome of Wednesday vote, in which the ND proposal was carried.

Speaking to SKAI TV, he reiterated that the prime minister is "deeply — and also morally — exposed, beyond the political dimension, because yesterday he came out playing the “victim.” The persecuted, besieged Mitsotakis. For the 717 they voted “no” to investigate the felony-level responsibilities proposed by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. Then yesterday, under public pressure, they call for an investigation with a fabricated offence, unrelated to the Bakaimis case file....They acquitted him yesterday. Unbelievable things for a European democracy," he added.

Commenting on the Israel–Iran conflict, the leader of PASOK–Movement for Change stated that: "The European Union must reconcile the different interests of its member states. Our fundamental interest is stability in the wider region. So, when on one side you have Trump, and on the other the EU remains silent, and we observe such escalation across the Middle East, I believe that does the European Union no credit. It shows a strategic crisis. Clearly, we don't want nuclear weapons in the hands of states that could trigger global crises, but we must also be cautious of arguments that, in the past, have proven to undermine—not promote—stability."

Regarding developments in Gaza, Androulakis criticised the alignment of the Greek government with Netanyahu: "Our alignment has harmed us. We may have longstanding strategic relations with Israel—PASOK opened and properly served that relationship early on—but that does not mean one must identify with a policy that destabilises the wider region."