"The Greek Watergate": calls for the resignation of the Prime Minister due to illegal wiretapping

Last month it was revealed that the phone of opposition leader Nikos Androlakis was monitored by the national intelligence service EYP and by Roglat Predator.

The intelligence service is under the authority of the Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis

news agencies

29/08/2022

Monday, August 29, 2022, 09:47 Updated: 11:03

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The Greek government is in turmoil over a new affair dubbed "Greece's Watergate" involving spyware, digital mercenaries and illegal eavesdropping.

"When I found out what happened, I didn't hesitate for a moment to say it was wrong," Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told MPs at the weekend as he tried to explain how the national intelligence service EYP tapped the phone of his political rival Nikos Androlakis, who heads the Social Democratic Party "Pasuk".

Following the disclosure of the affair, calls are now being heard for the Prime Minister's resignation, and today (Monday) a parliamentary investigation is expected to be opened, the importance of which may be decisive for the center-right government in next year's elections.

Coven for eavesdropping.

Nikos Androlakis (Photo: Reuters)

"You gave the order to the EYP to follow him," accused former prime minister and leftist Alexis Tsipras, who heads the opposition Syriza party.

"You wanted absolute power over what happens in the third largest party to ensure control over the political developments in preparation for a new parliamentary law that requires coalition governments."

The 54-year-old Mitsotakis came to power after a deep financial crisis that lasted more than a decade in Greece.

He was seen as a safe choice, a liberal conservative politician who was considered a success story in the European right.

His pro-business policies and desire to implement modernization processes in the country were welcomed by European capitals, which were forced to help a country that was mired in debt, and now hope that it will start attracting investment and capital again.

Mitsotakis also condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and is considered one of the more rational voices in Europe.

However, after three years, the American-educated businessman seems to have run into trouble.

The opposition in Greece hastened to compare the spying affair to Watergate and accuses the Prime Minister of operating a tool reminiscent of the days of the Cold War.

In addition, he is also accused of hubris due to his style of governance which is centered around a small circle of trusted advisers and aides, while access to ministers is limited.

In a controversial move, he also took over EYP, which was previously under the authority of the Ministry of the Interior.

Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis (Photo: Reuters)

Last month it was revealed that Androlakis' phone was monitored not only by EYP in the three months leading up to the Pasuk leadership elections, but also by the Predator spy, which has the ability to decode messages and turn the phone into a eavesdropping device.

Mitsotakis rejected allegations that his government had invested in a spy, the use of which was revealed when Androlakis sent his phone to be tested by the European Parliament's cyber security unit earlier this year.

"The government claims that Greek authorities are not using Predator, but simultaneous monitoring of EYP and Predator is a coincidence?"

he said.

The prime minister this month fired his chief of staff and the head of the intelligence service in response to the disclosure.

But he did not explain what led to the eavesdropping in the first place.

He told parliament that the wiretapping was legal and approved by a high-ranking public prosecutor.

Pasuk Party officials are speculating about extortion and bribery as the real motives behind the arson.

Some believe that the reason is that Androlakis was probably not his party's preferred choice in the next election.

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