PASOK requests the immediate summons of Popi Semertzidou and Giorgos Xylouris, known by the nickname “Frapes”, to the Commission of Inquiry for the OKAYbefore procedural provisions are activated that may prevent their future examination. The party’s rapporteur, Milena Apostolaki, warned that the latest developments may lead to ex officio prosecutions of the two persons, which will give them the status of the accused.
“We should not have a repetition of the precedent of the Tempi Inquiry, where Kostas Agorastos did not testify invoking the right to remain silent. Such a method would be a challenge,” he said. For his part, the president of the Examination Board, Andreas Nikolakopoulos, he noted that “prosecutions may have already been brought”, with Mrs. Apostolaki replying that “this is the responsibility of the majority”.
PASOK’s request to the examination board OKAY was also supported by SYRIZA’s rapporteur, Vassilis Kokkalis, while smaller opposition parties also appeared on positive occasions. On the New Democracy side, the rapporteur Makarios Lazaridis rejected the objections, underlining that “all the witnesses will be called when the list is updated”.
At the same time, he commented that “every time a witness does not say what they wish, there is a question of updating.” referring to the reactions of the opposition parties. He added that the key witness, Paraskevi Tycheropoulou, in the investigation for OPEKEPE “testified the exact opposite of what the opposition parties claimed, confirming that the big problem is located in the period 2015-2019, when the number of animals increased, signed by Apostolakis”.
With reference to the request of Plefsis Eleftherias to summon Akis Skertsos, Mr. Lazaridis stated that the majority remains open to discuss it during the update of the list of witnesses for the OPEKEPE examination. Finally, PASOK’s request for the immediate summons of Popis Semertzidos and Giorgos Xylouris rejected by the majority of the Commission.