Novartis

Coalition MPs were poised late on Friday to approve a parliamentary panel's decision to return to the judiciary an investigation implicating Greek politicians in a bribery scandal involving Swiss drug manufacturer Novartis. 

Greek Communist Party (KKE) chief Dimitris Koutsoubas said party deputies will walk out of Parliament ahead of a vote on whether to request the prosecution of 10 prominent politicians named in a bribery scandal involving Swiss drugs manufacturer Novartis, in the final stage of a parliamentary inquiry into the case.

The Greek Parliament will decide on Friday whether or not to request the prosecution of 10 prominent politicians named in a bribery scandal involving the Swiss drugs manufacturer Novartis, in the final phase of a parliamentary inquiry into the case.

A prosecutor on Thursday shelved legal suits lodged against government officials and prosecutors by former prime minister Antonis Samaras, ex-finance minister Evangelos Venizelos and former health minister Dimitris Avramopoulos, now European migration commissioner, over bribery claims involving Swiss drugs firm Novartis.

The long-running saga of a parliamentary investigation into a bribery scandal involving the Swiss drugs manufacturer Novartis will enter its final phase on Friday, as the House will meet to discuss and vote on the final committee report.

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis on May 16 announced the retirement of its top legal expert, as he apologized in a statement for payments made by the firm to Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen.

Lawmakers will debate in a plenary session on May 18 the results of a report completed by an inquiry committee into the alleged bribery of Greek politicians by the Swiss drugs firm Novartis.

Following a series of heated sessions, during which opposition MPs walked off the panel, the committee concluded on April 26 that it is not competent to examine the case.

SYRIZA lawmakers participating in a parliamentary committee set up to investigate 10 Greek politicians allegedly linked to a bribery scandal involving the Swiss drugs manufacturer Novartis, requested on Tuesday a two-day extension to submit their official report, sparking criticism from the opposition.

Swiss pharmaceuticals giant Novartis announced on April 9 it will buy U.S. gene therapy company AveXis for $8.7 billion (7.1 billion euros).

Central Bank Governor Yannis Stournaras has filed a lawsuit against two protected witnesses in the Novartis bribery case accusing them of perjury and slander, reports said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, a corruption prosecutor investigating the case ordered the opening of ten bank accounts and disclosure of other assets belonging to the prominent politicians named in the case file.