A tense, lengthy session of the Parliamentary Ethics Committee took place on Friday, May 15, 2026, to consider the lifting of parliamentary immunity for Zoe Konstantopoulou — former Speaker of the Hellenic Parliament and current leader of the political party Plisi Eleftherias (Movement of Freedom).
Committee Recommends Lifting Immunity in Two Cases
The committee voted by majority to recommend that the full Parliament lift Konstantopoulou’s immunity in two of five pending judicial cases. The recommendation passed with support only from New Democracy (ND) MPs. Opposition parties — including PASOK and SYRIZA — walked out of the session, denouncing the process as procedurally flawed and politically motivated.
Five Cases Under Review
Of the five requests submitted to Parliament, four relate to Konstantopoulou’s conduct during the trial concerning the Tempi train disaster — a major rail tragedy in northern Greece. The fifth concerns a defamation complaint filed against her by Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, following remarks she made about the ‘BIOLANTA’ factory incident.
Procedural Disputes Escalate
Konstantopoulou had requested a postponement of the hearing, arguing that supporting documents were not provided to her in time. She also sought the recusal of Ethics Committee Chair Giorgos Georgantas, citing concerns over impartiality. That motion was rejected by ND, PASOK, and SYRIZA; only Plisi Eleftherias voted in favor.
Konstantopoulou accused ND of “abuse of power” and an “unprecedented political setup.” She announced plans to file a criminal complaint against Georgantas, alleging bias in favor of Georgiadis and questioning the legality of the proceedings.
In a statement to journalists, she said: “I’ve stood up to the mafia since I was young — should I be afraid of these people?”
Split Hearing and Opposition Walkout
ND proposed splitting the agenda: two cases — the Georgiadis defamation complaint and a separate complaint Konstantopoulou filed against judicial officials involved in the Tempi trial — would be discussed immediately. The remaining three cases would be reviewed on Monday, May 18, 2026. The proposal passed by majority.
Opposition parties objected, arguing the procedure violated the legally mandated three-day notice period for committee members. Following the dispute, they left the session en masse.
With only ND members remaining, the committee formally recommended lifting Konstantopoulou’s immunity in the two cases under discussion. The full Parliament will now decide whether to approve the recommendation.
Next Steps
The Ethics Committee is scheduled to reconvene on Monday, May 18, to examine the remaining three judicial requests.