Greece: Political tension rises between Mitsotakis and Tsipras

A sharp political confrontation has emerged in Greece between Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, centered on allegations of corruption and the 2019 Penal Code reforms.

During a media appearance, Tsipras challenged Mitsotakis to provide specific names and evidence regarding allegations against him, or to cease what he described as a smear campaign. Tsipras defended the criminal code reforms implemented during his tenure and accused the government of using personal attacks to distract from economic issues like the cost of living. He called for the establishment of an investigative committee to address the matter.

Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis responded by accusing Tsipras of attempting to evade political responsibility by hiding behind scientific opinions. Marinakis emphasized that the 2019 Penal Code changes were political decisions made by the SYRIZA government, stating that those who voted for them must face the consequences.

Government sources further criticized Tsipras, labeling his recent rhetoric as undemocratic and comparing his political approach to past eras of instability. They also pointed to previous statements by former Justice Minister Stavros Kontonis regarding the 2019 code to challenge Tsipras's current position.