Government calm shattered by EU prosecutors case

Just arsenic the authorities was basking successful a uncommon affirmative infinitesimal – its handling of the Middle East situation having enhanced its crisis-management credentials – the premier minister’s bureau has been plunged backmost into turmoil aft the European Public Prosecutor’s Office forwarded a caller lawsuit record linked to cultivation subsidies bureau OPEКEPE, requesting the lifting of immunity for 11 sitting lawmakers. 

Two further individuals autumn under ministerial work laws, while 5 erstwhile lawmakers look nonstop prosecution without immoderate immunity proceedings required. Government spokesman Pavlos Marinakis sought to task calm. 

“Today’s announcement by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office constitutes a superior development,” helium said. “We await the transfer of the lawsuit record to the Greek parliament so that each lawsuit tin beryllium evaluated separately.” 

Behind the scenes, officials are already war-gaming aggregate scenarios. A furniture reshuffle, perchance by Monday, is present considered highly likely, peculiarly fixed that existent ministers implicated successful the record could not credibly stay successful post.

Three sitting authorities members, two ministers and a lawman minister, are under scrutiny for behaviour during their clip arsenic mean MPs. 

Government sources described astir implicated figures arsenic representing “the aged New Democracy,” signaling a imaginable broader purge. 

Snap elections, however, were flatly ruled out. Going to the polls mid-crisis, sources said, would awesome “panic and defeatism.”