Greek Govt Faces No-Confidence Motion Over Wiretapping Scandal

SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras. Photo; EPA-EFE/ALEXANDROS VLACHOS

The Authority for Communication Security and Privacy ADAE, on Tuesday, sent its findings on the wiretapping case to the speaker of parliament and the party leaders.

For almost a year, the government has been buffeted by revelations about the surveillance of politicians, journalists and others by the National Intelligence Service, NIS, and the use of illegal Predator software.

The government has only admitted that Nikos Androulakis, president of PASOK, the third largest party in parliament, was under NIS surveillance. However, Androulakis and the journalist Thanasis Koukakis was also a target of the illegal software.

Tsipras presented six names that, according to ADAE's report, were monitored by the NIS: Kostis Hatzidakis, Minister of Labour and Social Affairs; Konstantinos Floros, head of the General Staff; Charalambos Lalousis, chief-of-staff of the army, the former General Directors of Defence Equipment and Investments Theodoros Lagios and Aristides Alexopoulos, and Alexandros Diakopoulos, a former security advisor.

Tsipras accused the government and the PM of guilt and of endangering Greek security. "The Prime Minister and the government are deeply guilty; they are dangerous for democracy and for the country's security; that is why I am filing a motion of no confidence against the government."

By law, parliament can only withdraw its confidence from the government following a motion of no confidence, which must be signed by at least one-sixth of all MPs.

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