Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Nikos Androulakis clashed in a parliamentary session.
The PASOK leader accused the government of displaying arrogant behavior, stating that “the days of its omnipotence are over.” Mr. Androulakis urged the government to “get off its high horse,” claiming that its attitude is accelerating its exit from the Maximos Mansion. “We will be here with proposals and critique, ready to happily open the exit door for you,” he remarked.
In response, the Prime Minister said that if there are arrogant behaviors, “they are not accepted” by him, adding that “the sovereign Greek people will decide in three years who will govern.” He also remarked: “Come at full speed.”
The dialogue:
Androulakis: The tone and behavior, particularly of ministers, indicate that your days of omnipotence are over. You need to get off your high horse. The more you continue this arrogant behavior, the faster your exit from the Maximos Mansion will come, and we will be here with proposals and critique to gladly open the exit door for you.
Mitsotakis: If there are – and there may be – arrogant behaviors, they are not accepted by me. I have proven that. But you come with the enthusiasm of your recent election to tell us what? That you’ll assist us by opening the door for us to leave, and I suppose for you to come in. “Come at full speed,” as Ms. Tsapanidou once said. Your ambition is legitimate, but that decision will be made by the sovereign Greek people in three years. We will be here then.
Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis launched a verbal attack against Nikos Pappas from the parliamentary podium, referring to Pappas’ absence during his speech. Mitsotakis declared that he did not recognize Pappas, who had been convicted 13-0 by the Special Court for misconduct, as a legitimate representative of the main opposition. This statement is interpreted as a jab at former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras, who recently warmly greeted Pappas.
Mitsotakis emphasized his stance by stating he would neither engage with nor entertain Pappas, seeing this as a form of basic parliamentary respect. He also noted that Pappas is a transitional leader of SYRIZA, questioning whose voice he represents, given the party’s ongoing leadership changes. The prime minister expressed that once SYRIZA elects a permanent leader, he will engage in proper parliamentary debate.
Mitsotakis criticized PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis for not modernizing his party, humorously remarking that PASOK does not reform. He also addressed recent wildfires, defending firefighters and government measures, while accusing opponents of spreading false information about wind turbines and fires. Lastly, the prime minister reiterated that true patriotism lies in action, not self-promotion, and warned against arrogant behavior within his administration.
In response, Nikos Pappas criticized Mitsotakis’ behavior, calling it an institutional misstep, while Androulakis highlighted policy inconsistencies in recent government reforms.
