Greek MEP Accused of Sexual Harassment Resigns from SYRIZA Party

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said on Monday that the Belgian authorities have asked for the lifting of MEP Alexis Georgoulis' parliamentary immunity after it emerged that a sexual harassment complaint has been made against him.

Georgoulis, a well-known Greek actor and SYRIZA MEP, was accused in 2020 of sexually harassing an executive of the legal service of the EU Commission and a member of the political council of Greek political party PASOK.

"I received a request from the competent Belgian authorities to lift the parliamentary immunity of Alexis Georgoulis. The request is referred to the legal affairs committee," Metsola said at the start of a plenary session in Strasbourg.

Georgoulis, 48, who was elected as a member of the European Parliament with the SYRIZA party, denied the allegation but said he was submitting his resignation from the party.

"Unfortunately, we live in difficult and dangerous times. In the face of this false and insulting attack, which was carried out - probably not by chance - a few days before the national elections [in Greece], I intend to fight my battle for justice, for the truth and the rehabilitation of my name, requesting the removal of my MEP's immunity," Georgoulis said.

He also said he was resigning from the SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance group in the European Parliament.

In a statement on Monday, SYRIZA said it had suspended Georgoulis from the party until the case is clarified.

"MEP Alexis Georgoulis is being suspended from SYRIZA-PS following the information we had today about a complaint against him and given the need to clarify the relevant case fully," SYRIZA said.

The complainant's name has been leaked to the Greek press, drawing criticism from women's...