Konstantopoulou and Avramopoulos lose parliamentary immunity in separate cases

In Konstantopoulou’s case, 265 MPs voted, with 175 in favour of lifting her immunity and 90 against. The request concerns a case arising from a lawsuit filed by journalist Petros Kousoulos for insult and repeated defamation.

Konstantopoulou had requested that the debate be postponed because of the trial over the death of Sifis Valyrakis, in which she is appearing as a lawyer. Her request was rejected by parliamentary speaker Nikitas Kaklamanis on the grounds that the case risked becoming time-barred, as the file had been forwarded to parliament at the end of June and MPs were required to decide within three months.

In Avramopoulos’s case, the lifting of immunity was approved by 264 of the 266 MPs who voted, while two voted ‘present’. The request followed a warrant issued by Belgian authorities in connection with the Qatargate investigation, with the case file referring to alleged participation in a criminal organisation, bribery and money laundering.

Avramopoulos did not appear in parliament but said in a written submission that he had no involvement in the unlawful acts under investigation. He asked for his immunity to be lifted, saying he did not wish to use his parliamentary status as a shield against judicial scrutiny.

In the submission, he said his involvement with Fight Impunity had been exclusively honorary and advisory, without executive or financial responsibilities, and that he had no knowledge of any illegal activity. He also said arrangements had been made for him to appear voluntarily before the Belgian authorities.

‘I am not asking for protection from the investigation. I ask to be given the opportunity to cooperate fully,’ he wrote.

New Democracy parliamentary spokesperson Dimitris Kairidis praised what he described as Avramopoulos’s courage, saying ‘he did not want to hide’. He then turned his criticism on Konstantopoulou, telling her she had ‘the syndrome of the persecuted’.

‘You have tormented us for endless hours. We silence you, yet you speak for five hours. This is how you understand democracy. You have the syndrome of the persecuted,’ Kairidis said.

SYRIZA parliamentary spokesperson Christos Giannoulis criticised Kairidis for using language that amounted to the ‘psychiatricisation of politics’ and called on New Democracy to show respect towards the opposition.

‘You are not the controllers of our thoughts, nor do you have the right to point fingers,’ he said.