Xeni Dimitriou

Testifying on Friday in the probe into the alleged bribery scandal implicating Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis and Greek politicians and doctors, deputy prosecutor Ioannis Angelis alleged that there was an organized plan to jail three politicians, including former prime minister Antonis Samaras, on the eve of national elections last year. 

Testifying on Friday in the probe of the alleged bribery scandal implicating Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis, Greek politicians and doctors, deputy prosecutor Ioannis Angelis alleged that there was an organized plan to jail three politicians, including former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, on the eve of national elections last year. 

A group of about 40 hooded protesters set fire to garbage dumpsters outside the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) on Wednesday and vandalized some storefronts.

A special parliamentary committee inquiring into the merit of claims of political interference in the Novartis bribery case removed on Tuesday two lawmakers of the main opposition, due to their status as potential witnesses in the case.
Dimitris Tzanakopoulos and Pavlos Polakis from SYRIZA will have to be replaced by two other party MPs.

Greece's Supreme Court has turned down a request by deputy prosecutor Ioannis Angelis for a fellow deputy prosecutor and a former prosecutor to be taken off a probe concerning the alleged bribery scandal involving Swiss pharmaceutical firm Novartis.

Deputy Supreme Court Prosecutor Dimitrios Dasoulas, who currently serves as chief prosecutor following the retirement of Xeni Dimitriou, has ordered an investigation into claims by fellow deputy prosecutor Ioannis Angelis that there were political interventions in the Novartis inquiry and into criticism by politicians implicated in the probe of its judicial handling.

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos has refused to sign two presidential decrees for the appointment of a new prosecutor and president of the Supreme Court that had been selected by the previous SYRIZA administration.
The decrees, which were returned to the newly elected New Democracy government unsigned, are considered null and void, and not binding, as a result.

Greek President Prolopis Pavlopoulos returned unsigned the two presidential decrees on the appointment by the previous SYRIZA government of the new prosecutor and president of the Supreme Court.

Since the decrees were not signed by the president, they are considered null and void and therefore are not binding for the government of New Democracy.

By Dimitra Kroustalli

There are certain posts in public service that operate almost anonymously for the majority of the population because the institution transcends the individual that serves it.

Such was the case with the Supreme Court Prosecutor's Office.

Greek President Prokopis Pavlopoulos will not sign a presidential decree green-lighting the appointment by the outgoing SYRIZA government of the new prosecutor and president of the Supreme Court, leaving the selection to the administration that will emerge after the July 7 snap election.