The Guardian characterizes the Mitsotakis government: "His dark methods are reminiscent of the worst days of the junta"

The British newspaper The Guardian lashed out at the government of Kyriakos Mitsotakis with harsh criticism in an article that makes extensive reference to the wiretapping scandal and resignations in Greece following the Maximos Gate revelations.

In the wiretapping scandal, the commander of the National Security Service (ΕΥΠ), as well as the chief of staff prime minister resigned August 5, amid revelations of “shady practices” and a crisis of espionage, akin to Watergate, the Guardian notes.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is experiencing his most difficult hour in office after it was revealed that the mobile phone of his political opponent, the leader of the country’s third largest party, was tapped on the orders of ΕΥΠ, intelligence service reporting directly to his cabinet.

“I never expected the Greek government to spy on me using the darkest methodsNikos Androulakis, head of the PASOK-KINAL party, who is also a member of the European Parliament, said in a televised address on Friday as the extent of the espionage became apparent. “Our democratic duty is to protect the rights and freedoms of Greek citizens. Today is the moment of truth for those whose arrogance and sense of impunity make them capable of anything.”

Just a few hours earlier, Prime Minister Maximou’s office had announced his resignation. Panagiotis Kontoleonaup to this point a very respected leader of ΕΥΠ, for “incorrect actions.”

The news follows a shocking announcement that Mitsotakis’ nephew and most trusted aide, Grigoris Dimitriadis, has also stepped down, taking a hit in place of his boss, in a move that was hoped to end the scandal. Dimitriadis, who was considered an authority with broad powers, in fact held in his hands the entire national security service of Greece.

On Sunday, as Mitsotakis admitted that the wiretapping was a “huge and unforgivable mistake,” the resignations began to be interpreted like an admission of guilt.

Calling the espionage scandal Greek Watergate“who brutally offends our democracy,” former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras vowed not to leave a stone unturned for New Democracy in exposing wrongdoing.

The centre-right government, he said, has an obligation not only to reveal everything about Androulakis, whose phone was tapped for three months ahead of his election as Pasok leader last September, but also about other people who were also rumored to be under surveillance.

“Instead of hypocritical apologies and lies, Mr. Mitsotakis should say which other politicians and journalists have been followed,” said Tsipras, who heads the main opposition party, SYRIZA. “This is not a huge and unforgivable mistake. This is a huge scandal, [который представляет собой] the inexcusable arrogance of a regime, a prime minister who thought no one could control him.”

A scandal that recalled the darkest days of military rule, when opponents of the 1967-74 colonel regime were regularly spied on, first erupted when Androulakis claimed he had been informed by the European Parliament of an attempt to tap his mobile phone with a malicious Predator software.

The MEP made the announcement after using a cybersecurity service set up by Parliament in Strasbourg for lawmakers to make sure their phones are not being spyed on. Predator is one of the most sophisticated spyware that can unlock encrypted messages and activate cameras and microphones on mobile devices.

MEP and President of PASOK-KINAL Nikos Androulakis

Androulakis filed a complaint last week prosecutors to the country’s Supreme Court detailing the wiretapping attempt.

Two Greek journalists, one covering migration issues and the other covering finance, have also taken legal action following allegations of similar illegal surveillance by a government that has been internationally criticized for restricting media freedom.

On July 29, Contoleon, head of the spy service, admitted in a closed session of a parliamentary committee that Greek intelligence had been following Thanassis Koukakis, a financial reporter, by order of foreign intelligenceaccording to members of parliament present.

Initially, government officials denied that the discovery of the Predator malware played any role in the resignations. But then sources said that Androulakis’ mobile phone was indeed tapped at the request of foreign intelligence agencies, and with the permission of the prosecutor, but although it was legal and carried out using ordinary software, the prime minister did not know about the surveillance and “would have stopped it.”

Over the weekend, the Greek media called the foreign spy services Ukrainian and Armenian, and some publications explained the request by links of the Pasok leader with “shady individuals acting on behalf of Chinese interests” (this despite the fact that Thanassis Koukakis, as a former employee British “Group 4 Security”, according to the Greek media, was more likely to be associated with the CIA or MI6. But The Guardian, of course, will not write about this. Note. editions.).

This line of defense was immediately denounced as a tangled web of lies from an administration in its biggest crisis since taking office in July 2019. On Friday, Androulakis called on the Greek parliament to set up an investigative committee to look into potential political liability.

Mitsotakis, who in one of his first steps in office controversially placed EYP under Maxim’s control, said he would publicly address the nation on Monday. The Sunday newspaper To Vima described his words: “I must apologize to Nikos Androulakis.”

The Harvard-educated leader, seen by some as a breath of fresh air after years of debilitating economic turmoil in Greece, has won praise for a reform agenda and a management style more associated with the US than with the Mediterranean. Since his rise to power, he seems to have happily handled multiple crises.

But Mitsotakis, who faces re-election next year under a new electoral law that will make it nearly impossible for his New Democracy party to form a government – even if it is predicted to win first place – is also coming under increasing criticism for a leadership style that leaves little room for criticism.

“Absolute power corrupts,” said MEP Giorgos Kyrtsos, who was expelled from the New Democracy party for openly criticizing the government and its attitude towards the media earlier this year. “Mitsotakis rules through Megaro Maximo, not through the cabinet, in a system with few checks and balances. His desire to control is out of control. This spy scandal is a very big crisis that will raise even more questions about the true extent of his European liberal powers.”

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