Former Deputy Minister to the PM, Christos Triantopoulos, is expected to submit a written testimony today, Friday, before the preliminary investigation committee of the Parliament regarding the alleged cover-up of the crime scene at Tempe.

His statement is anticipated to mark the premature conclusion of the committee’s proceedings, as the session will include a vote on his request for immediate referral to the Judicial Council.

As a reminder, former Deputy Minister is accused by the association of Tempe victims’ families and the opposition of being involved in the alleged cover-up of the crime scene at Tempe. Triantopoulos has requested an immediate referral to the Judicial Council so that it can decide whether he should stand trial before a special court.

“My wish—though it may seem paradoxical at first—is to be judged by the regular courts, as outlined in the Constitution and the laws on ministerial accountability. I believe this is the right course because prosecutors and judges operate with guaranteed independence and impartiality, and they bring both expertise and authority to the process,” he wrote in a social media post.

The opposition has accused the government majority of shielding the PM by opting to terminate the committee’s proceedings. Meanwhile, the ruling New Democracy (ND) party argues that Triantopoulos’ direct referral to the Judicial Council is constitutionally sound. PM Mitsotakis even described Triantopoulos’ decision as “a bold step with no modern precedent,” stating that “he is doing precisely what we have all been asking for.”

Constitutional law expert Xenophon Kontiadis has commented on the significance of the parliamentary investigation committee’s work, explaining that its findings will determine whether other individuals will also face prosecution and what the exact charges will be. He highlighted the procedural complexities, noting that if the offense were to be escalated from a misdemeanor to a felony by the Judicial Council, the case file would first have to be sent back to Parliament—a critical issue, especially given the government’s failure over the past five years to amend the statute of limitations for ministerial offenses.

If the majority view prevails, political parties will have approximately ten days to draft their conclusions, while the final report will be submitted to the Plenary within the first half of April for a final vote.

The report is expected to recommend prosecution for breach of duty. If approved by at least 151 MPs, Triantopoulos will be referred directly to the Judicial Council, bypassing the investigation committee of the Parliament. The five-member Judicial Council panel will be selected by lot.

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