After interrupting about an hour, The OPECEPE Inquiry Committee meeting It began again, with former President of the Organization, Gregory Varra, to finally decide to answer the questions of Members.
The meeting was initially interrupted by Commission President Andrea Nikolakopoulos, as the witness had refused to accept questions after his initial placement.
Prior to the interruption, Mr. Nikolakopoulos informed the witness about the legal consequences of his attitude, reading the relevant article (231) of the Code of Criminal Procedure, which even provides for violent entry. After this intervention, Mr Varra agreed to continue the process normally.
The atmosphere at the meeting was tense, With opposition MPs blaming the former OPEKEP President for “lack of respect” to the House. Vassilis Kokkalis (SYRIZA) argued that Mr Vara’s refusal “documented an offense”, while Alexander Avlonitis called for the immediate activation of the autopsy process if he still did not respond. During his initial position, Mr Varras fired shots at the former Minister of Rural Development, Maki Voridis, arguing that there was a “intervention” in the call for the technician OPECEPE’s consultant.
“When a minister is asking for the declaration and says Make corrections, is this intervention or not?He questioned characteristically, adding that he resigned from his post after pressures by Mr Voridis and the Director of the Organization, Mr. Athanasa. However, he later clarified that his departure was in a “good climate”. “When he asked me for the resignation, we left smiling – we had a velvety divorce,” he said. Finally, he stressed that he never informed the Prime Minister of any disagreement with the then minister.