Greek Parliament set to investigate wire-tapping scandal

The Greek Parliament is set to investigate the wire-tapping scandal that recently rocked the Mitsotakis government and saw the resignation of the Head of the Greek Intelligence Service (KYP).

Opposition parties approved the setting up of a parliamentary examination committee on the wiretapping case of the phone of PASOK-Movement for Change (KINAL) leader Nikos Androulakis on Monday evening, with the ruling New Democracy (ND) voting "present".

A total of 142 MPs voted at the plenary session in support of the proposal to investigate the surveillance of Androulakis' cellphone, while 157 MPs voted "present". A total of 120 votes were needed for the proposal to go through.

Parliament President Constantine Tassoulas announced after the roll-call vote that the committee will consist of 29 deputies, allocated per party as follows: 15 deputies from ND, 8 from main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, 2 from Pasok-Kinal, and 1 each from the Communist Party of Greece (KKE), Greek Solution, MeRA25, and Independents.

Tassoulas also said that once the committee members are appointed and the examination committee convenes, they will have a deadline of a month to present their findings to plenary. (According to the rules, the committee can get an extension.)

The proposal to set up a committee was tabled by Pasok-Kinal. Earlier in the day, ND had said it would not support the proposal committee because it wanted the investigation to be extended to previous governments in order to gain a fuller picture, something also requested by KKE.