Greek Parliament backs lifting immunity of Zoi Konstantopoulou and MP Mario Salmas

The House of Representatives' Committee on Parliamentary Ethics gave a majority vote to lift the parliamentary immunity of Zoi Konstantopoulou, president of the Freedom Movement, and independent MP Mario Salmas. The motion was supported solely by New Democracy (ND) deputies; PASOK, SYRIZA, KKE, the NIKI party and the Freedom Movement voted against, while Greek Solution recorded a presence.

Konstantopoulou faces a defamation lawsuit filed by businessman Achilleas Davelis, while Salmas is targeted by a defamation claim from Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis. Konstantopoulou did not attend the committee hearing and sent a protest letter accusing ND members of abusive, “violent” behaviour and stating she had never received official notice or the meeting minutes. She demanded the withdrawal of the complaints and the removal of the implicated deputies from the process.

The committee’s recommendation – described as a “green light” – is now referred to the plenary session of the Parliament, which will make the final decision on both immunity lifts.