The name game – Who’s afraid of Giannis Panousis?

Former citizens protection minister Giannis Panousis exposition concerning Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) members involvement with terrorist groups has caused panic following his interview with Proto Thema newspaper over  the weekend and subsequent visit to the Supreme Court Prosecutor’s office on Monday. Less than 24 hours after he submitted proof of names and documentation to the prosecutor, strong criticism was hurled at the former minister by members of his own party. A number of SYRIZA ministers played down the death threats that Panousis had received while in office dismissing it to the realms of crime fiction.

On his part, Justice Minister Nikos Paraskevopoulos admitted that his advisor and member of the SYRIZA’s political secretariat, Panos Lambros, had conversations with inmates. In a radio interview he said that it is desired to have contact with inmates, while also holding a distance.

SYRIZA Government Spokeswoman Olga Gerovasili, along with other ministers took a line against Panousis despite admission from party members that there had been conversations between government officials and  members of the terrorist organization, Conspiracy of the Cells of Fire. These conversations are now in the spotlight, excerpts of which have been broadcast.

Labor Minister George Katrougalos chose to mock Panousis when asked by journalists concerning the people involved in the conversations with terrorist groups. He said that Panousis was “writing a story and had submitted the names to his notary.”

Alternate Education Minister Sia Anagnostopoulou said that the accusations are of interest when someone is a minister. “When he is no longer a minister, these accusations are not of concern,” she said, adding that the situation was now in the hands of justice.

Shipping and the Aegean Minister Thodoris Dritsas merely labeled the case as “police stories”, whereas Environment and Energy Minister Panos Skourletis told Parapolitika 90.1 FM radio station that the situation is serious and needs a more rational handling. He said that the timing of the scandal is interesting and wondered whether naivity, recklessness or some other goal were to blame.