Main opposition PASOK-Movement for Change (KINAL) leader Nikos Androulakis on Monday said that ruling New Democracy’s decision to set up a Parliamentary examination committee to look into the OPEKEPE scandal sought to "whitewash its ministers" of their responsibility. In an interview with Radio Thessaloniki on Monday he criticised the move, claiming it aimed to protect government ministers from scrutiny.
He also referred to the Tempi rail tragedy, arguing that the government chose to support the Communist Party of Greece’s proposal for an inquiry in order to exclude former minister Kostas Karamanlis from the investigation regarding the failure to implement contract 717.
"I’ll vote for whatever inquiry committee they want-on any issue and from any point in time-as long as they vote for PASOK’s proposal to form a preliminary investigation committee," Androulakis stressed.
He warned that, if it is not approved, the investigation into former minister Makis Voridis will be dropped, and Lefteris Avgenakis will "effectively be amnestied" for the criminal offences described in the European Public Prosecutor’s file. "Once again, the government is preventing justice from investigating its own ministers. We are not judges," he said.
On matters of foreign policy, Androulakis expressed his disagreement and criticised the participation of Turkish defence companies in the EU’s security architecture.
When asked about the recent provocations by Libyan authorities, Androulakis urged caution, stating: "If we don’t act within a strategic framework that helps Europeans understand the major challenges in the Eastern Mediterranean, we’re going to see a lot more ahead."
Regarding migration policy, Androulakis stated: "The strongest message to an economic migrant who arrives illegally in Crete is that you will quickly be returned to your home country. We propose accelerating procedures, while the government, by suspending asylum, is in fact suspending the examination of asylum requests, suspending rejections, and suspending repatriation."
"The sooner New Democracy leaves, the better," stressed Androulakis, underlining that "PASOK is the only party currently capable of paving the way for political change. It is the only party with a concrete programme for governing the country. At the Thessaloniki International Fair (TIF), we will have the opportunity to present our positions."
Concluding he said that "trust in me and the effort we are making means zero tolerance for corruption."