For the announcement of the National Commission for Human Rights (HCHR) on the Mitsotakis government, with which it “dismisses it for anti-democratic, anti-institutional and unconstitutional methods towards the Independent Authority for Ensuring the Privacy of Communications (IAEA) during the investigation of the scandal of wiretapping”, says the parliamentary representative of SYRIZA PS, Theofilos Xanthopoulos.

It states in its statement that the HEA “identifies serious issues regarding the proper, democratic and smooth formation and operation of certain Independent Authorities, expresses its concern about the study of selection of new members of the HEA which precluded the search for wider consents and emphasizes that the definition of new Members with a majority less than that required by Article 101A of the Constitution is constitutionally impermissible”. In addition, Mr. Xanithopoulos emphasizes that the EEDA also mentions that the president of ADAE himself, Christos Rammos, informed the members of the EEDA about the obstacles he faces in the exercise of his duties lately. In particular, it is stated: “He denounced attempts to prevent the Authority from carrying out checks on the facilities of telecommunication service providers and state services, defamatory and threatening reports against him by official State bodies, the illegal selection of Members of ADAE due to the lack of the necessary constitutional majority as and summoning members of the Board of Directors and the staff of the Authority to testify before the Court for their opinions and the way they perform their duties. All of the above contribute to the creation of a ‘depressing, toxic climate’ within which the Authority’s staff are called upon to continue to carry out their work. The EEDA emphasizes that the uninterrupted and intervention-free operation of the Independent Authorities and ensuring the personal and operational independence of their Members constitutes an inviolable rule for the smooth operation of a Rule of Law. Members of Independent Authorities should not be criminally prosecuted for the performance of their duties.”

Mr. Xanthopoulos states that “it is now clear to everyone that the Mitsotakis government, in addition to the twin scandal of wiretapping and its cover-up, is also burdened with the scandal of direct interference in the operation of the Independent Authorities”. He adds that “the institutional deviation, with the sole responsibility of the government, is well maintained” and that “with this anti-democratic behavior it harms the rule of law and exposes the country internationally”. Finally, the SYRIZA parliamentary representative emphasizes: “Be sure, however, that nothing will remain hidden. The eavesdropping scandal will be revealed and those responsible will be held accountable to justice.”