The proposal to establish an investigative committee on wiretapping has been shelved (as was the case with the preliminary inquiry into OPEKEPE yesterday) following the ruling party’s maneuver regarding the required number of votes in favor.
To confirm the information, at the start of the plenary session early this morning, Makis Voridis, speaking on behalf of New Democracy, requested the floor to raise a “side issue”: namely, that because the wiretapping case concernsmatters of foreign policy and national defense, 151 “yes” votes are required to establish an investigative committee, as stipulated by the Rules of Procedure of the House.
What he failed to explain is why, when the wiretapping scandal broke, the House approved, in 2022, the establishment of an investigative committee with a required majorityof 120 votes.
This is because, under its Rules of Procedure, the House has the right to approve opposition requests to establish investigative committees only with 120 “yes” votes, twice during a parliamentary term.As happened, that is, in 2022.
All the more so since the government insists on its other argument that, from then until now, no new evidence has emerged regarding the wiretapping issue, despite the guilty verdict of the Athens Single-Judge Misdemeanor Court and the public statements by Intellexa CEOTal Dillianthat his company did not sell Predator to private individuals but to governments and state agencies.
In light of the government’s stance, the opposition is essentially being called upon to decide whether to remain in the process or to withdraw so as not to legitimize it.
Also on the table is PASOK’s consideration of a motion of no confidence against the government.