By Elena Galaris

New Democracy is obliged to pay the amount of 40,000 euros, by decision of the Personal Data Protection Authority, which has completed its investigation into the leaking of e-mails to former ND MEP Anna Michele Asimakopoulou.

Although the Authority came to the conclusion that ND was not involved in the leak, it nevertheless imposed a fine of 30,000 euros on it as it was found that it did not take sufficient measures to protect personal data and an additional 10,000 euros because it deemed that from the former secretary of Apodimon of ND Nikos Theodoropoulos , the relevant list was leaked.

At the same time, he fully exonerated the then Secretary General of the Ministry of the Interior, Michalis Stavrianoudakis (who resigned as soon as the case was revealed), judging that some other person made the leak from the Ministry, who, however, was not identified.

The Authority decided by a majority (5-2) that the file was sent to the ex-Secretary of Apodimons of the ND Nikos Theodoropoulos by Menios Koromilas, then Organizing Secretary of Self-Government and Crisis Management of the ND. something he himself admitted claiming that the resigned general secretary of the ministry had sent it to him. However, the independent Authority ruled that he sent the file as a private individual and not as an executive of New Democracy and imposed a fine of 10,000 euros on him
The same amount of money was also imposed on Nikos Theodoropoulos as the Authority considered that he edited the material for statistical reasons and then, after keeping it for 6 months instead of deleting it, forwarded it, as a private person, to Anna Mitchell Asimakopoulos.

Two members of the Authority who voted in a minority decided that all those involved should be cleared, due to doubts, arguing that there was not enough evidence as to who actually violated the personal data of the emigrants.

ND sources: Appeal to the Supreme Court

For their part, ND sources state that the fine imposed by the Authority for the Protection of Personal Data on New Democracy does not concern the case of the leaking of the emails, but the parallel investigation that was carried out on the occasion of the specific case and omissions that the Authority claims to exist in the party’s compliance procedures with the Personal Data Protection legislation.

“New Democracy disagrees with the Authority’s conclusion, considering that what is proposed as improvements are either things that ND already demonstrates that it adheres diligently or are manifestly unenforceable, even illegal, as for example the Authority’s view that ND should check the personal devices of its executives. For these reasons, it appeals to the Council of State against the decision.

It is emphasized that based on the conclusion, there is no proof of any involvement of New Democracy in the case of the leaking of the emails, no fault for the leaking of the file or the sending of the emails, while it is expressly stated that none of this was done at the behest or on behalf of , but independently from the controlled persons. Indicative is, in fact, the fact that the said decision of the Authority, contrary to what is usual, is not unanimous, but the opinions of the members who voted against, proposing exemption, are also expressed”, they emphasize.