With an attack on the prime minister, Sokratis Famellos began his speech in the debate in the Parliament on the Monument to the Unknown Soldier, saying that “he put it to rest because he saw the clear differentiation of Nikos Dendias”. Subsequently, after calling him a “scoundrel liar” he raised the question of whether there is “unity of the cabinet and requested that the Minister of National Defense come to the Plenary”.

Continuing, he said about the subject of the debate: “Besides the problem in his government, no one from the opposition objected to the sanctity of the Monument. What we raised an issue about is why the shameful amendment insults the Constitution, the democratic memory and the struggles of the Greek citizens”.

He noted that “with this context, Panos Routsi would have been arrested on the first day of the hunger strike and would have risked a year in prison. He wouldn’t be able to fight his honest and fair fight.”

He then argued: “Legislate a total ban on assembly and free expression in the area in front of the monument to the Unknown Soldier, not in the honors area but all the way to the boulevard. Every event of social gathering is prohibited and above all, the exercise of the constitutional right of citizens’ mobilization, which we have seen multiplying recently against the government, with completely democratic and safe demonstrations, is prohibited.”

He also asserted that with the regulation brought by the government, “if anyone and everyone is found in this area they risk a year in prison” and underlined: “That is, if some friends, colleagues, neighbors, schools gather and wish to stay in the area to pay tribute to the names of the 57 people who died in the crime of Tempe, you will arrest them with summaries procedures. You provide for the imposition of the penalty even with a criminal order from a prosecutor, that is, without a court. Direct and fast track criminal procedure”.

Sokratis Famellos argued that the government is afraid of popular protests and added: “The timing of the amendment speaks for itself. A few hours after the end of the hunger strike of Panos Routsi, a father who put his life in danger by asking for answers about the death of his child, the prime minister chose to open the issue of the use of the monument for the Unknown Soldier. And in order to do so, he goes one step further into authoritarianism and the violation of the Constitution.”

Responding to the prime minister’s arguments, he said that “the monument is not in danger from the social protests. Mr. Mitsotakis is in danger. Your government is at risk of fearing the wave of solidarity with a father who was looking for justice. Who is afraid of society’s reaction from the 13-hour labor slavery, to the financial corruption scandal of OPEKEPE, where blue-collar workers of your party stole almost 1 billion euros”.

He accused the government of undemocratic schemes and scandals and added: “And instead of even doing self-criticism, you follow Mr. Trump. In a little while you will also take out the National Guard… It is clear that you are trying to attract the extreme voices, to scare the housewives, and at the same time that you want to please the extreme right that is nesting inside your party, with the ministers of the PEOPLE”.

Then he asked: “Really why didn’t Mr. Dendias come to support the amendment?” Maybe why does he disagree? So we ask that Mr. Dendias come and please inform him and come. His absence will prove a major government breach and the inadequacy of Mr. Mitsotakis. It is at least a failure for the Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Dimas, to support the amendment to take over the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense.”

Summarizing, he noted: “Your amendment is unconstitutional and unacceptable, that’s why we filed an objection of unconstitutionality.

– It violates the core of the constitutional right of assembly and personal freedom,

– Violates the principle of clarity of criminal rules,

– It violates the principle of proportionality.”