The government is calling for the expulsion of SYRIZA MP Andreas Panagiotopoulos following his remarks—captured on video—in which he hurled insults at the Prime Minister and mocked the leader of PASOK.

According to the statement from government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis, SYRIZA is responsible for fostering a climate of toxicity and undermining institutions, even exploiting human suffering for political gain.

The controversy arose during an event in the village of Chalandritsa, in the municipality of Erymanthos, where the SYRIZA MP for Achaia attended the traditional New Year’s cake-cutting ceremony. According to powergame.gr, he referred to the government as a “gang that rules us” and called Kyriakos Mitsotakis a “dim-witted Prime Minister.”

Watch the video of his statements:

Andreas Panagiotopoulos – SYRIZA MP for Achaia

In another part of his speech, Panagiotopoulos went even further, claiming that the government’s next step would be to… “kill short and fat people.” He then sarcastically referred to PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis by quoting a Greek folk song: “Little short lemon tree, you’ve grown taller and now you think you’re two meters tall.”

Watch the video of his statements:

Andreas Panagiotopoulos – SYRIZA MP for Achaia

Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis condemned Panagiotopoulos’ behavior as an “anti-democratic outburst” and urged SYRIZA’s leadership to immediately expel him. He warned that failure to do so would make SYRIZA complicit in spreading what he described as dangerous rhetoric against democracy.

“The attempt to drag the country back into the swamp of toxicity and division will not succeed,” Marinakis stressed, calling on all political forces to take a clear stand in defense of institutions, the rule of law, and democracy—without evasions or attempts at equal distancing.

Full statement from the government spokesperson:

“For weeks, we have been witnessing the opposition’s attempt to cultivate a climate of toxicity and institutional doubt, even weaponizing human suffering for political purposes.

Today, the website powergame.gr revealed that SYRIZA MP for Achaia, Andreas Panagiotopoulos, speaking at a party event, insulted both the Prime Minister and the PASOK leader, referring to a ‘gang that rules us’ and claiming that ‘they are flattening everything in the country, which is extremely dangerous because we are heading towards a type of fascist shift, driven from America and coming here, where eventually, it will come down to: I don’t like this one because he’s fat, I don’t like that one because he’s short, I don’t like the other because of his beliefs—so kill him.’

After such an anti-democratic outburst from an active MP, no further commentary is necessary. What is necessary, however, is immediate action from SYRIZA’s leadership.

His expulsion is the only option. Otherwise, SYRIZA’s leadership will share responsibility, effectively endorsing these dangerous views for our democracy.

The opposition’s attempt to drag the country back into toxicity and division will not prevail.

In this fight to protect our institutions, the rule of law, and our democracy, there are no ‘gray areas’ or ‘equal distances.’ Everyone is called upon to take a stand—not with words, but with actions.”