With accusations from both sides and in high tones, the feud continued between Minister of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection Vassilis Kikilia and the journalist Babis Papadimitriouafter the episode on the SKAI morning show.

Vassilis Kikilias considered Babis Papadimitriou’s expression “basketball player minister” derogatory, criticizing the journalist on air.

With his post on Facebook, Babis Papadimitriou reported that the minister acted threateningly against him during the break of the show. In more detail he wrote:

“I was, this morning, behind the cameras, a victim of threats, insults and physical intentional violence from Vassilis Kikilia.
On the occasion of my comment about the exploitation, which the president of SYRIZA systematically does, of prominent and likeable personalities, in the specific case of the excellent basketball player Nikos Pappas, the minister present in the studio – a basketball player in his youth – when the ads fell, that is, off the air , headed towards the journalists in wild moods.
Immediately and in a threatening tone, he accused me of insulting the athletes and asked me not to catch them in my mouth. “You misunderstood something,” I told him, “and I’m sorry for that.” But he continued: “What are you? “Nothing” and other unintelligible shouts while everyone present tried to calm him down.
It didn’t stop there. He moved towards me aggressively, forcing a fellow journalist to rush between us to block what everyone feared.
Nothing was enough to restrain the furious “Defence” minister. When the cameras came on again, now alone in the studio, he made a rambling statement (which he made sure to distribute within ten minutes), calling me a “sleazy politician and journalist, running around to get an autograph and a picture with one of these guys.” and at the same time he insulted me, saying that I am like those who “have never stuck a badge in their lives”.
This is unacceptable, unnecessary, violent and offensive behavior. A minister who insults a journalist, to skip the rest, cannot go unnoticed. It is my duty and right to comment freely and it is his choice to hide behind the distortion of the real facts.
I don’t understand what’s offensive because I said he’s a basketball player too?
Perhaps I should have lost my temper after all, so I would have eaten none and he, I suppose, his ministerial head. Let him do the serious work assigned to him by the Prime Minister and learn to respect others…”.

Vassilis Kikilias responded with a post on Facebook, writing:

“Mr. Papadimitriou, an analyst-commentator and a high critic of the politicians he joined but unfortunately was not re-elected, is confused: He thinks he can disparage and ridicule even on a personal level, without counterpoint to the arrogance of an appointed censor. And when it happens that they answer him face to face, he resorts to slander: Pride gives way to cowardice and shameless lies.”