Scenes of intense confrontation unfolded in the Hellenic Parliament on Friday, May 15, 2026, as Zoe Constantopoulou — president of the political party Plissi Eleftherias (Movement of Freedom) — and Adonis Georgiadis, Minister of Health and senior New Democracy MP, engaged in a sharp, heated exchange.
A Volatile Session After Ethics Committee Meeting
Constantopoulou took the floor visibly agitated following a meeting of Parliament’s Ethics Committee concerning five pending legal cases against her. She denounced what she described as a “fascist and anti-democratic attack” targeting her personally. In turn, Georgiadis accused her of having “surpassed even her worst self” — a remark that quickly escalated tensions across the chamber.
Allegations of Intimidation and Abuse
Constantopoulou singled out several New Democracy MPs — including Giorgos Georgantakis and Vasilis Ypsilantis — accusing them of issuing physical threats, banging on parliamentary seats, and hurling “vile insults” during the Ethics Committee session held in Room 223. She characterized the proceedings as an “unprecedented orchestration,” suggesting the committee hearing was politically motivated.
New Democracy’s Response
Dimitris Markopoulos, parliamentary spokesperson for the governing New Democracy party, responded by accusing Constantopoulou of undermining parliamentary institutions on a daily basis. He referred to her leadership in Parliament as a “black presidency” and said his party would not tolerate “insults from someone who routinely mistreated staff and collaborators.”
The tension intensified when Spyros Kazamias, an MP from Plissi Eleftherias, called Markopoulos the “chief enforcer of New Democracy” — prompting immediate intervention by the parliamentary presidium, which ruled the term inappropriate and barred its use.
Dispute Over Former Employee Allegations
Constantopoulou returned to the floor, accusing Markopoulos of slander and verbal abuse. The debate then shifted to allegations involving a former employee of Plissi Eleftherias. Constantopoulou claimed the case was “staged” by New Democracy, Georgiadis, and “para-state mechanisms.”
Georgiadis Enters the Fray
Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis then addressed the chamber, reiterating that Constantopoulou had crossed a line by alleging that money had been paid to the former employee to file complaints. Citing tax declaration records, he stated that Plissi Eleftherias had reported payments totaling €24,000 to the woman in 2025. He urged the Labour Inspectorate to conclude its ongoing investigation without delay.
Climax of the Confrontation
The exchange reached its peak when Constantopoulou shouted at Georgiadis, “You’re a fascist.” The parliamentary presidium ruled that the phrase would not be entered into the official record. In response, Georgiadis expressed disgust over Constantopoulou’s reference to photographs of the former employee wearing a bikini — a detail he said was irrelevant and degrading — and urged her to uphold basic standards of conduct.