A German newspaper has launched a blistering attack on Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, accusing him of scandals, cover-ups, and a systematic effort to undermine democracy and the rule of law.

In an article by journalist Ferry Batzoglou, die tageszeitung (TAZ) argues that Greece’s post-dictatorship democratic era — widely considered the country’s best period — took a sharp turn after Mitsotakis came to power in July 2019. The paper says he has ruled the country with an “iron fist” ever since.

Alleged Scandals and Cover-Ups

TAZ claims the prime minister “has a lot of dirt on his hands,” citing the wiretapping scandal, the alleged cover-up of the deadly Tempi train crash, and the recent controversy over EU agricultural subsidies linked to Greece’s farm payment agency. According to the article, the pattern is always the same: “zero investigation, zero clarification,” with supporters and the prime minister himself avoiding consequences through control of the media, judiciary, and parliamentary majority.

Parliamentary Maneuvers

The newspaper also criticises Mitsotakis for allegedly forcing about 60 government MPs to vote by post in order to block an opposition request for a parliamentary inquiry into the subsidies scandal. Parliamentary rules, TAZ notes, allow postal voting only for MPs in late pregnancy, immediately after childbirth, or abroad for serious reasons.

Nepotism and Corruption Claims

The report further accuses the prime minister of running an “uncontrolled clientelist system, nepotism, and rampant corruption,” which it says keeps him — as a member of a long-standing political dynasty — in power “at the expense of the majority.” In a sarcastic remark, it even suggests that “if he could bribe Peanut, his dog, he probably would.”

TAZ concludes that while Mitsotakis likes to present himself as a moderniser, in reality he is “the gravedigger of democracy in Greece.”