The Greek government is seeking to contain political fallout after renewed controversy surrounding New Democracy lawmaker Dimitrios Kyriakidis, as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis attempts to balance institutional consistency with an escalating confrontation with opposition leader Zoe Konstantopoulou.
According to the report, the issue caught the government off guard, forcing officials to navigate a delicate political situation while trying to prevent the controversy from strengthening Konstantopoulou, leader of the Course of Freedom party.
Mitsotakis Reportedly Irritated by Renewed Controversy
Sources cited in the report said Mitsotakis, who was visiting the island of Leros, addressed the matter during the government’s regular morning strategy meeting.
Although the prime minister was reportedly irritated by the renewed controversy sparked by Kyriakidis, he did not want to create the impression that Konstantopoulou had scored a political victory over the government.
The developments came only days after the two leaders clashed in Parliament, where Konstantopoulou repeatedly interrupted Mitsotakis’ speech. The prime minister later left the chamber when she took the floor.
Government officials note that Mitsotakis had immediately condemned Kyriakidis’ original remark as unacceptable and removed him from the New Democracy parliamentary group at the time.
Government Targets Opposition Criticism
Government officials argue that Konstantopoulou has repeatedly used far harsher language against Mitsotakis in the past, including describing him as a “killer of children” in connection with the Tempi rail disaster and referring to him as the “prime minister of scandals and corruption,” along with other severe accusations during previous political confrontations.
According to government sources, Konstantopoulou routinely disregards the norms of political discourse and deliberately escalates tensions for political gain.
Internal Reservations Within New Democracy
The government’s defense, however, has reportedly failed to convince everyone within the ruling party.
According to the report, several ministers and New Democracy lawmakers have expressed reservations about the handling of the case, arguing that the standards the government has established for public discourse should be applied consistently and without exceptions.
The argument that Kyriakidis did not repeat his controversial phrase but instead attempted to present it as advice rather than a personal attack has also reportedly found little support within the party.
TV Appearance Canceled
As part of efforts to limit further attention to the controversy, the secretary of New Democracy’s parliamentary group reportedly asked Kyriakidis to cancel a scheduled television interview on the Greek broadcaster OPEN to avoid prolonging public debate.
Konstantopoulou, however, is expected to appear on the same television network, where she is anticipated to intensify her criticism of both the government and Mitsotakis personally.
Officials at the Prime Minister’s office reportedly believe time will work in the government’s favor. With political activity expected to slow during August and public attention traditionally declining over the summer, the government’s strategy is to prevent the controversy from dominating the news cycle and allow it to gradually fade from the spotlight.
