The issues of guaranteeing the independence of the independent Authorities, but, in particular, its case investigation of the shipwreck tragedy off Pyloswere the focus of the meeting of Stefanos Kasselakis with the Ombudsman, Andreas Pottakis, at the office of the president of SYRIZA PS in the Parliament.

Mr. Pottakis stated that he was “sadly impressed by the fact that the Greek Coast Guard did not itself undertake an internal disciplinary investigation into this tragic event, which is the largest shipwreck that has occurred in the Mediterranean as recorded by the History of such incidents. The president of SYRIZA PS noted that there is political responsibility in this particular issue and that light needs to be shed on the case.

In particular, in the dialogue they had in front of the television cameras at the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Kasselakis said that “the independence of the constitutionally guaranteed independent Authorities, but also of all Authorities, is a major issue of democracy and I have strong concerns about the government’s policies In this direction”. As he pointed out, “there can be no substantial independence of the Authorities if your budget is not constitutionally guaranteed and without any influence from any party”.

The president of SYRIZA PS pointed out that for him the functioning of democracy is a major issue, stressing that there must be transparency towards the citizens. He also recalled that one of his first positions in his pre-election campaign was for the removal of the immunities of MPs within the framework of the Constitution, the removal of privileges, the privileges and immunities that exist for bankers, the staffing of the entire State, let alone the independent Authorities, “all of which are understaffed”.

Mr. Kasselakis told the Ombudsman that he has an extremely important role and referred to the case of the shipwreck outside Pylos. He noted that it is a matter of humanity to shed light on the case. “It is in Greece’s search and rescue zone, it is a matter of national sovereignty how we manage such cases and I cannot consider that the treatment of Greece in that case was such as befits a country that does not want to give up any of its sovereign rights and must there should be transparency in this direction”, he emphasized. As he stated, the official opposition is on the side of the Ombudsman and all the independent authorities, which he wants to strengthen “and since we are the government soon it will be clear to everyone that there will be no influence from our government on the independent authorities”.

Mr. Pottakis congratulated the president of SYRIZA for his initiative to visit and be informed by the heads of the independent authorities. “You are absolutely right about the essential independence of the independent Authorities and I had the opportunity in the context of the recent conference (of the independent Authorities) to mention that especially for our financial independence and administrative autonomy and staffing it is at least paradoxical, not to say an oxymoron, the auditee should determine the adequacy, both financial and administrative, of his auditor”, he pointed out. “It is something that really needs to be looked at in depth and changed so that, especially at least the constitutionally protected independent AAHs that are elected and accountable to the Parliament, to have a closer relationship with the Parliament, to have a parliamentary supervision also in the issues of their financial management but also of their administrative competence”, he underlined.

“They should also be elected from a stable composition”, added Mr. Kasselakis. “Right,” said Mr. Pottakis, turning to the issue of the wreck. “The Ombudsman was deeply impressed by the fact that the Greek Coast Guard did not itself undertake an internal disciplinary investigation into this tragic event, which is the largest shipwreck that has occurred in the Mediterranean since History records such incidents,” he said. “It made a sad impression on me,” he continued, “because I believe that the Coast Guard must also, by conducting such investigations, protect its own prestige,” he noted. He emphasized that it is an issue that has concerned the international press and international public opinion, representatives of international organizations “and one would expect the reflections from the Coast Guard to be different”. “Fortunately, however, the Ombudsman is here to ensure that an investigation will be carried out in an impartial, objective and in-depth manner,” he added.

Mr. Kasselakis mentioned that when the shipwreck had occurred in Pylos and he himself was a candidate on the State ballot in a non-elective position, he had said that the Coast Guard was following instructions.

“I have met a lot of people who work in the Coast Guard and they are truly heroes. And there it is understaffed, they are on the front line, they don’t hear “thank you” many times, but they follow instructions, orders. There is, in my opinion, political responsibility in this particular issue,” he pointed out. He added that from all over the shipping world “you hear that the management of this incident was not rescue management. So light needs to be shed on the case. It is not possible to sit and watch a ship in danger with so many souls in it, ready to batter, and do nothing…”.

He commented that it also bothers him a lot that while the domestic media covered the accident then only the foreign big media continued to cover it. “This is not a quality of democracy. It may not concern the Greek man and the Greek woman to the same extent as other issues, such as accuracy, understandably, but the quality of our Democracy is how we all develop together and it is important that you as an independent Authority can do your work without no influence from the government or from political actors”, underlined the president of SYRIZA to conclude: “In this direction we will be by your side”.