An off-the-agenda Parliament debate on the always topical, by Greek standards, scourge of corruption and graft in the country took place at the political party leaders’ level on Monday, generating early week political “fireworks” and numerous “soundbites” for newscasts but little in the way of substance.
Leftist Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras charged that his government is facing a “constant attempt of a type of post-modern media coup”, claiming that increasing criticism of his government is fully backed by main opposition New Democracy party.
Tsipras referred to stepped up media criticism of his government and himself personally after last month’s controversial decision by the government to auction off only four national broadcast licenses to the highest monetary bidder. Only two out of the seven national broadcasters picked up a license, another two on-the-air stations failed, and one of the winning bidders subsequently was disqualified. The disqualified bidder, a company controlled by the Kalogritsas family, was the focus of opposition and media criticism of the government.
“I have no commitments to anyone, and I will not turn back, even if they threaten and blackmail me,” Tsipras said during the raucous session, while adding that he was satisfied that “heavyweight businessmen were locked inside small rooms, because that is what the law imposed …” he said in reference to the closed-door, nearly three-day long electronic auction for the licenses.
In his response, main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis again demanded snap elections, while again stepping up his denunciation of Tsipras, whose party has been faring badly in practically of the recent opinion polls released in the country.
“The country does not deserve to have you as the prime minister… you are already beaten,” he said.
