Surveillance of Greek opposition leader was not legal: Ex-justice minister
Lifting privacy of communication allowed by constitution only for national security reasons or to probe serious crimes, says Michalis Stathopoulos
ANKARA
The surveillance of Greek opposition party PASOK-KINAL’s leader Nikos Androulakis by the National Intelligence Service (EYP) was not legal, local media reported over the weekend, citing Greece’s former justice minister.
In an interview with the Avgi daily, Michalis Stathopoulos made remarks on the surveillance scandal that has rocked the Greek political scene.
Referring to remarks by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis on Aug. 8 that surveillance of Androulakis was legal, as it was done with the approval of the public prosecutor, he drew attention that lifting the privacy of communication is allowed by the constitution only for reasons of national security or to investigate serious crimes.
However, despite the PASOK-KINAL leader’s constant requests, state authorities refused to provide information on why he was spied on, he added.
For that reason, it was illegal to monitor his phone, Stathopoulos underscored.
Answering to those who say the EYP cannot reveal the reasons behind the surveillance because of its secret nature, he maintained that this argument lacks seriousness.
“If we accept such an argument as valid, the EYP would have absolute and unlimited power to be able to monitor anyone at any time without even giving reasons,” Stathopoulos warned.
Meanwhile, Mitsotakis, who took part in celebrations marking the Aug. 15 Assumption of the Virgin Mary, one of the most important religious festivals of the Greek Orthodox Church on the island of Tinos, called for unity amid escalating political tensions in the country.
"On this great day for orthodoxy, there is a great need for our country to remain united and committed to the goals of the future," he said.
Surveillance scandal
In a televised address to the nation, Mitsotakis on Monday acknowledged that Androulakis was wiretapped by the state's intelligence agency but denied he knew about the surveillance.
“Although everything was done legally, the EYP underestimated the political dimension of this action. It was formally okay but politically unacceptable,” he claimed.
The scandal erupted last week when EYP chief Panagiotis Kontoleon told a parliamentary committee that his agency had been spying on Thanasis Koukakis, a financial journalist who works for CNN Greece.
The parliamentary probe was launched after Androulakis complained to top prosecutors about an attempt to hack his cellphone with Israeli-made Predator tracking software.
