A debate in Parliament between Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis and Plefsi Eleftherias (Course of Freedom) leader Zoe Konstantopoulou turned into an exchange of harsh personal insults. On the sidelines of parliamentary scrutiny, words such as “fascist” and “traitor” were heard, in a dispute sparked by the minister’s attendance at a meeting with Israeli officials at the Athens Club.
Konstantopoulou claimed that on October 12, the minister took part in a “secret meeting” attended by Israel’s ambassador and the Israeli Technology Minister. She argued that the meeting was linked to promoting the interests of a foreign state and asked whether Georgiadis attended in his capacity as minister and whether he had informed the prime minister and the Speaker of Parliament.
The Plefsi Eleftherias leader opened the discussion by ironically telling the health minister, “I thought I would distract you a little from your acrobatics and exclamations and ask something serious.” She went on: “A sitting minister secretly meeting with other members of your party, with groups and figures of international Zionism and an organization whose aim is to promote Zionist goals and continue violations of international law.”
“Only In A Sick Mind”
“You have probably confused me with Christidis, whom you took to task and who, very wrongly, tried to justify himself. You think I am that kind of politician,” the minister replied. He rejected the description of the meeting as “secret,” countering that it was an event with 200 guests in central Athens. “A secret meeting with 200 guests in the center of Athens can only exist in a sick mind,” he said, asking whether the lack of a social media post about it was grounds for an accusation.
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He also said that he had informed neither the prime minister nor the Speaker of Parliament, arguing that he did not need their permission. He defended the strategic relationship between Greece and Israel, pointing out that it began under the government of George Papandreou in 2010, and cited Israel’s position on the Turkey-Libya memorandum and the cooperation on the electricity interconnection.
“I Am Dealing With You Criminally”
The clash escalated when Konstantopoulou returned to the floor, calling the minister a “fascist” and referring to his past sale of antisemitic books by Konstantinos Plevris. She also turned her fire on Benjamin Netanyahu, whom she called the minister’s friend, and said she would make sure he is held accountable.
“I am dealing with you criminally in this current question, and you should take that into account,” she told Georgiadis, arguing that he had contradicted himself. The remark provoked a strong reaction from the minister. “What did you do? Did you threaten to put me in jail? Should I start crying?” he asked, adding: “Who do you think you are, madam? National Prosecutor?”
“I Am A Fascist And You Are Not A Traitor?”
The clash then became even more personal. Arguing that the national interests of Greece and Israel “fully coincide,” Georgiadis told Konstantopoulou: “I am a fascist and you are not a traitor to Greece?” He said this was because, in his view, she opposes the relationship between the two countries.
“Fearless,” the Plefsi Eleftherias leader remarked, while the minister continued his personal attacks: “Who ruined your character and made you such a crank?” He also threw the word “fascist” back at her, accusing her of speaking rudely to her colleagues and threatening them. The debate ended in a highly charged atmosphere, with the minister repeating that he had attended the meeting and defending his decision.