SYRIZA leader Socrates Famellos has formally requested a judicial investigation into what the party describes as a major political scandal involving the alleged covert financing of a propaganda operation using both public and private funds, implicating Greece’s ruling New Democracy party.
Famellos submitted the complaint to the Prosecutor’s Office of First Instance, demanding an inquiry into recent media reports that claim a politically connected communications firm, Blue Skies, acted as a shadow communications arm for New Democracy. The firm allegedly funneled resources to a social media platform known as “Team Truth,” accused of pushing government-aligned messaging and attacking political opponents.
Speaking after his hour-long visit to the Evelpidon courts, Famellos emphasized the gravity of the allegations. “We filed a complaint with the head of the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the publications related to the scandal of the Truth Group, Blue Skies and New Democracy” he stated. “It is a matter of public interest to reveal the connections of financing a propaganda and character assassination mechanism, through the management of both private and mainly public money.”
He further stated that such practices, if proven, would constitute violations of Greece’s laws governing political party financing. “Propaganda mechanism cannot be financed in violation of the law on the financing and operation of political parties in our country. It is a matter of democracy and for us it was an obligation to ask the Justice Department to investigate this major scandal. Unfortunately, major scandals of democracy break out every day, this is Mr. Mitsotakis.,” Famellos said, declaring SYRIZA’s intent to support judicial efforts to uncover the truth.
The allegations stem from a series of investigative reports in domestic and international outlets, including Documento, Politico, and Euractiv. According to the reports, Blue Skies — an affiliate of prominent PR agency V+O — employed numerous individuals with direct ties to New Democracy, some of whom later assumed government positions following Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s 2019 electoral victory.
Among those reportedly linked to both Blue Skies and government roles are high-profile officials such as Minister of Labor Domna Michailidou and Deputy Transport Minister Konstantinos Kyranakis. Critics allege that while on Blue Skies’ payroll, these individuals coordinated targeted online campaigns through “Team Truth,” attacking opposition figures and even families of victims of the 2023 Tempi train disaster.
Government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis dismissed the accusations as “science fiction,” asserting that party members are free to work in the private sector. Blue Skies also denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that employing politically experienced staff is standard in the industry and denying involvement with “Team Truth’s” social media activities.
Famellos revealed that SYRIZA will also bring the matter before the Anti-Money Laundering Authority and has submitted related inquiries in Parliament. “In SYRIZA, we are exhausting our democratic rights. It is our democratic right to demand transparency in party financing, control of the parastatal mechanisms that are corrupting our society”
