Loverdos declares Saudi arms deal can lead to early elections

Pasok MP and former minister Yannis Loverdos is the man who delivered to parliament classified defense ministry documents that he says establish that a middleman was illegally used by Defense Minister Panos Kammenos in pursuing a munitions sale to Saudi Arabia. The documents will be at the centre of Monday’s parliamentary debate, where Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and main opposition New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis will clash swords.

In an exclusive interview with the daily Ta Nea’s reporter Myrto Lialiouti, Loverdos details the elements of the case that he believes establish the existence of a scandal that could even lead the government to early elections. Loverdos’ responses are quoted verbatim below.

‘’Despite the boasts of the government and its cheap rhetoric about transparency, middlemen are alive and well and have made their presence resoundingly clear in the affair of the munitions sale to Saudi Arabia. The facts speak for themselves, and they are catalytic.’’

‘’There are issues about which the defense minister must provide answers. Firstly, for what reason did he negotiate a government-to-government deal with a private sector middleman, in this case Mr. Papadopoulos? Secondly, given the fact that the said middleman was rejected by the official negotiating team of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, how and why did he negotiate with someone who provided a false power of attorney from the Saudis? Here we have a very serious issue. Either there were particular and dark reasons for this, or the defense minister was overtaken by a syndrome of arrogance, in order to offer a service to someone. Thirdly , and most importantly, on whose orders did the agreement spoil with the true representatives of Saudi Arabia , from whom the Greek state would have received the hardly inconsequential sum of 66 million euros. Was it on Mr. Kammenos’ orders?’’

Breach of trust

‘’Is this an issue of corruption or is it an issue about Yemen? The first issue will be investigated by judicial functionaries following an emergency order issued by the Supreme Court Prosecutor, but also by military justice. All I can say as a legal scholar at this first stage of the probe is that there are indications of a breach of trust, which is a felony, at the expense of the Greek state. In other words the state suffered damages. As for the second part of the question, that is clearly in the realm of international politics and geopolitics, and I do not want to take a position publicly.’’

Kotzias’ role

‘’I do not know what led Foreign Minister Kotzias speak of prison sentences – for the leak of classified documents. As hard as I try, I cannot interpret the thoughts of a man who as far as I can see does not understand the principle of the separation of powers. Fortunately, for me and the vast majority of Greeks, we cannot understand the ‘Other People’s Lives’ mentality. In any event, Mr. Kotzias’ threats against politicians, journalists, and freedom of speech, is deeply undemocratic and not in line with parliamentary practice. He obviously is unfamiliar with parliamentary procedures and did not take the time to be briefed on what happened in parliament. As for his threats, they are claptrap from bygone eras.’’

Parliamentary practice violated

‘’Obviously, in parliament we had a violation of customary parliamentary practice, but that is not the main issue. I would like to ask Parliament Speaker Nikos Voutsis to be exceptionally careful, as this threatens his historical reputation and his personal political dignity. With this and other decisions, he has come very close to crossing the Rubicon bridge, and he is ready to cross the fateful river, if he continues acting not as Parliament Speaker, but rather as spokesman for the ruling majority.’’

Government cover-up?

Does the government’s stance show that it has something to hide? The overall behavior of government cadres, with their constant contradictions, denials, threats, and back-pedaling, is proof positive that the government wants to cover up two things – the dark, ‘close encounters of the third kind’ with middlemen, and the government’s failure to conclude with transparent terms a government-to government deal that would have benefited the country.’’

Tsipras’ lust for power

‘’Just as it is difficult for someone with a passion for power to part with it, so too it is difficult for the prime minister to wrench himself free from his ruling coalition partner. At this point, the balances have shifted, and it is Mr. Kammenos who now has the leading role. He is saying that if you touch me you can bid goodbye to the Alexandria you are losing – as the poet Cavafy said of the end of Marc Antony. And we all know that Alexis Tsipras is no Marc Antony, but rather a power-crazed politician. For all of the above reasons, I believe that the Saudi arms deal can lead to early elections. But you should know that this issue will be pursued even after possible elections.’’

‘’Even if the prime minister were to intensify his charm offensive toward the centre-left, I dare say it would be rejected universally and immediately. Greece is suffering due to Mr. Tsipras’ tragic mistakes.’’

in.gr