Government Pushes for Karamanlis Trial in Natural Court Amid Political Proposals

The government is clearly signaling a path towards the natural court for former Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, Kostas Karamanlis, regardless of his personal preference. This message was conveyed by the Government Spokesperson during a briefing with political editors. ‘Politically, asking for something has great value. Legally… the substance legally lies in what the Plenary decides first and then the Pre-Investigative Committee, not initially the suspect, and later the accused if criminal prosecution occurs,’ stated Paulos Marinakis. The government emphasizes following the ‘Triantopoulos model,’ where cases are directed straight to the natural court via the Plenary and Pre-Investigative Committee. This bypasses party filters, ensuring impartial justice. Meanwhile, several parties are preparing proposals for Pre-Investigative Committees. The PASOK party has confirmed it has enough MPs to submit its proposal. SYRIZA and the ruling majority may also present their own proposals. However, managing this case requires careful handling from the government: avoiding accusations of cover-ups while preventing opposition exploitation for political gain. With today’s announcement of the controversial legal documentation in Parliament, all eyes are on how the investigation will unfold.