In Chania, where the weekend will pass, the Kyriakos Mitsotakis is called upon to make important political decisions on the course of government.
And the case of OPECEPE He created political injuries, with Mr Mitsotakis forced to “lose” the ministerial position Maki Voridis, who has been serving continuously since 2019, and three deputy ministers, including his very close Tassos Hatzivasiliou, who remains in the position of Secretary of International Relations of the ND.
Talks that came to light, however, created a political pressure environment for Mr Mitsotakis. This climate reached Brussels, where Mr Mitsotakis had traveled after the NATO meeting in The Hague. From Friday morning, the countdown to the prime minister’s decisions began, with his interlocutors suggesting the kissing of the deputy ministers referring to talks with his executives. OPECEPE At the time when they were still ND MPs.
“There is no criminal issue for them, but these conversations with their ministerial capacity are not compatible,” said competent sources. And given that MPs who have no criminal offense were led to the exit, Makis Voridis could hardly remain in his place.
The phone calls and the meeting
Mr Mitsotakis allegedly spoke with Mr. Voridis on Friday morning and returned from Brussels. He told him that, as things have happened, he should also facilitate his attitude, while recognizing that the case file does not consider criminal responsibilities for his minister. This was also the view of Mr Voridis, who may not want to leave the government, on the other hand, the prime minister did not make it difficult for the government. It was a key prerequisite for him and is the ND not to recognize criminal responsibility for him, since it does not arise from the case file.
Arriving at Maximou, Mr. Mitsotakis entered a meeting with his close associates. At the same time, the deputy ministers had received the message from the… surrounding atmosphere, with some having the statements ready. After the meeting, attended by Kostis Hatzidakis, Stelios Koutnatzis, George Mylonakis, Pavlos Marinakis etc., Mr. Mylonakis called them. Hatzivasiliou, Boukoro and Stamenitis send their resignations. The other Deputy Minister of Rural Development, Christos Kellas, escaped, as he does not seek anything for a voter in a dialogue.
The next steps
With the removal of the four, Mr Mitsotakis chose to move relatively quickly, so that the case would not be “malicious” and the Maximus Palace not to be politically trapped, with the argument that those ministers who were involved in talks – even without criminal.
This does not predict the ND’s attitude towards the pre -trial request that PASOK has essentially announced. On the contrary, according to information, the government is not “warm” for yet another pre -trial, hence it does not plan to contrast its own proposal to that of PASOK, as it was in the case of Karamanlis and Triantopoulou. Reportedly, competent sources say that “at most to become an exam”, based on the first evaluation of the case files.
Mr Mitsotakis is also called upon to make decisions to replenish the ministers out of the figure. Maki Voridis’ position will be sought, most likely, a person similar political profile, as the aim is to continue the course that Mr Voridis has drawn. The positions of the Deputy Ministers is given that ND members will be recruited and it remains to be seen whether it will be “firsts” or “ex”, who will get a second chance.