In a post on social media, Georgiadis listed what he called his recent achievements at the Ministry of Health before responding to the criticism Lazopoulos had directed at him the previous day. He wrote: ‘This attack, in my opinion, goes far beyond the limits of well-intentioned criticism, which as a public figure I must accept, and causes great moral harm to me personally, causes justified fear in my family, and constitutes, in my opinion, a criminal and civilly punishable act.’
He added: ‘I am resorting to the Greek courts by filing a criminal complaint and civil lawsuit against Mr Lazopoulos and a lawsuit against the person responsible for the television station’s broadcast. I am also filing a complaint with the Hellenic Broadcasting Commission, the only competent institution to protect the public from such obscenities, against the television station and its presenter. I sincerely regret that I am forced to do such a thing, as although as a person I accept the harshest public criticism, I generally avoid the courts, respecting freedom of speech and criticism, but here I am left with absolutely no other option.’
Lazopoulos: ‘When your power ends, you will meet 9 million Greeks on the streets’
The segment that prompted Georgiadis’s response featured a montage of his past statements, first as a member of the Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS), a far-right party, and then following his move to New Democracy.
Lazopoulos then said: ‘A man, Adonis, who on Monday hates Jews and on Tuesday says “Our Jewish friends! Our friends!” The one who, from the day he was born, saw the listing German submarines and went on MEGA and screamed about it and within ten days saw them sailing straight. And immediately after that they made him minister. The one who, for his 68,000 voters, is a formidable politician, because he never lets up. 68,000! 68,000!’
He concluded, to applause: ‘Mr Georgiadis, I don’t want to frighten you, but for many millions of people there may be a sense that you are a pitiful figure. You will tell me that you need those 68,000 votes. But when your power ends, you will meet 9 million Greeks on the streets without a riot police escort. Know this.’
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