Speaking at the regular briefing for political editors, Marinakis described the case as ‘simply’ involving ‘the sending of an email’, insisting that it ‘has nothing to do with the electoral process’.
The government spokesman invoked the presumption of innocence, noting that those convicted can appeal and that the case will be judged definitively at second instance. At the same time, he criticised those who, he said, treat the four defendants ‘as if they were drug dealers or white slavers’.
‘Treating these people in this way over an email, at a time when we receive messages from unknown profiles every day and are bombarded with campaign messages, is hypocritical to the point of ridiculousness,’ he said.
Asked whether New Democracy would remove its convicted officials, Marinakis replied emphatically: ‘Why should we remove these people? For God’s sake.’
He also reiterated that the government does not comment on court decisions, separating the political from the judicial aspect of the case. ‘I neither have the opportunity nor could I ever comment,’ he said, adding that the assessment of the case belongs exclusively to the judiciary.
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