Political tensions between PASOK and ELAS (Hellenic Left Coalition) spilled into the Open TV studio on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, as MP Petros Pappas and ELAS spokesperson Marizeta Antonopoulou engaged in a heated on-air exchange. The confrontation centered on recent allegations by Health Minister and ND Deputy Leader Adonis Georgiadis against former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras — who is now leader of ELAS — accusing him of accepting money to vote in favor of the new Criminal Codes.
A Legal Question Raised
Pappas directly questioned why Tsipras had not pursued legal action against Georgiadis, given the gravity of the accusation. Drawing a comparison, he cited PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis, who filed an immediate criminal complaint after Georgiadis made claims about Androulakis’s rental of property to the state. ‘It raises a legitimate question: Why hasn’t the leader of ELAS, Mr. Tsipras, taken legal steps despite facing such a serious allegation?’ Pappas asked — only to be swiftly interrupted by Antonopoulou.
Counter-Attacks and Political Barbs
Antonopoulou responded that the matter had already been referred to prosecutors and archived, then turned the focus back on Androulakis, alleging he ‘forgot to declare €1 million’. She repeatedly pressed Pappas with the pointed question: ‘Are you governing together?’ — a rhetorical jab implying PASOK’s perceived political alignment with Tsipras’s camp.
Pappas strongly rejected the insinuation, calling it ‘vulgar’, and insisted Tsipras clarify whether he intends to file a complaint — otherwise, he said, ‘legitimate questions remain’.
Antonopoulou doubled down, asking sarcastically: ‘Do I see a coalition? Is it all three of you — or just the two of you?’
Studio Tension Escalates
The escalating back-and-forth prompted host Nikos Stravelakis to intervene, attempting to restore order and hand the floor to New Democracy’s Alexandra Sdoukou. ‘I’ve already given the floor to Ms. Sdoukou. Can’t you hear? Please — do you need me to raise my voice to make myself understood?’ he said, visibly frustrated.