Current Greek government a threat to the country: Ex-interior minister

ANKARA

The ruling New Democracy (ND) party is a threat to Greece and its people, a former Greek interior minister said on Wednesday.

The ND government led by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is destabilizing Greek society and democracy at all levels, said Nikos Voutsis, a senior lawmaker of the main opposition party Syriza.

He said the government poses a threat to the country as its policies harm the people and its actions denigrate the rule of law.

Voutsis accused Mitsotakis and his government of colluding with sections of the bureaucracy and judiciary in a bid to extend its term.

“Senior government executives are also involved in gross moral and political scandals, which a part of the Greek media has been trying to cover up,” he said on a radio morning show.

The latest political scandal in Greece involves Andreas Patsis, an ND lawmaker who is facing allegations of defaulting on large bank loans.

Mitsotakis has expelled Patsis from the ruling party’s parliamentary group, the pro-government daily Kathimerini reported on Tuesday.

The case has also led to the resignation of Giorgos Konstantopoulos, who was heading the state-run postal service Hellenic Post (ELTA).

Konstantopoulos quit on Tuesday, citing “moral reasons.”

ELTA had hired international legal firm DLA Piper for consultation on European matters, according to the report.

Patsis was DLA Piper’s legal representative in Greece, it added.

• Greek politics
• Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis
• Nikos Voutsis