Dimitris Papangelopoulos

The Greek government's decision on Tuesday to leave the cabinet chairs empty during a parliamentary debate on the creation of a special committee to investigate possible crimes committed by former alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos in connection with the Novartis inquiry bears a significant symbolic weight.

Former PM Alexis Tsipras told Parliament that his alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos has been turned into a scapegoat.

He believes the Novartis scandal was properly handled legally and morally and that there is no indication of a conspiracy or manipulation of the judiciary.

Δείτε ακόμη: Μητσοτάκης - Θα προκαταβάλλεται το επίδομα θέρμανσης

Greek MPs have approved the creation of a parliamentary committee to probe possible crimes committed by former alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos in connection with the Novartis investigation.
The conservative proposal received 173 yes-votes, while 83 MPs voted against. The Greek Communist Party (KKE), Greek Solution and Mera25 abstained from the vote.

Late on Tuesday night MPs were poised to approve the creation of a parliamentary committee to probe possible crimes committed by former alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos in connection with the Novartis investigation. 

A proposal by ruling New Democracy for the creation of a special parliamentary committee to investigate possible crimes committed by former alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos in connection with the Novartis investigation is to be debated by Parliament's plenary session on Tuesday.

The countdown has begun for the launch of a special parliamentary committee to probe the possible mishandling by former alternate justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos of the alleged bribery scandal involving prominent politicians and the Novartis pharmaceutical company after the submission Thursday of the relevant proposal by 30 New Democracy lawmakers - the number required by law.

Thirty lawmakers - the number required by law - submitted on Thursday a proposal to set up a special Parliament committee to probe the handling by former justice minister Dimitris Papangelopoulos of the alleged bribery scandal involving prominent politicians and the Novartis pharmaceutical company.

Corruption prosecutor Eleni Touloupaki on Wednesday denied claims that she was among those that forced the resignation of her predecessor Eleni Raikou in 2017.

Former alternate minister for justice Dimitris Papangelopoulos vehemently denied accusations by a former chief prosecutor for corruption that he had used his influence to intervene in her work on a number of cases, including the alleged Novartis bribery scandal.

Greece's former chief prosecutor for corruption, Eleni Raikou, presented evidence on Monday indicating that ex-alternate minister for justice Dimitris Papangelopoulos had used his influence, "in the manner of a pimp," to intervene in her work on a number of cases, including the Novartis bribery scandal.