Fierce political controversy was sparked yesterday by the revelation of the unauthorized and illegal pool built by the President of SYRIZA Progressive Alliance, Stefanos Kasselakis, in Spetses, despite the explicit prohibition by the Council of State.

After the revelation by “Thema,” “the grand words about the rule of law sank to the bottom of an illegal pool,” commented Government Spokesman Pavlos Marinakis, stating that “the same person who ignored the provisions of the law (which had been enacted by the Tsipras government) that prohibits participation in offshore companies,” thus accusing Mr. Kasselakis of systematically violating the laws.

Pavlos Marinakis’ full statement:

The newspaper “Proto Thema” reveals that Stefanos Kasselakis, while he had been elected president of the main opposition party, constructed an unauthorized and illegal pool at his house in Spetses.

He is the same person who ignored the provisions of the law (which had been enacted by the Tsipras government) that prohibits participation in offshore companies.

He is the political leader who preaches about our Democracy and institutions from the streets of Mykonos, while turning a blind eye to repeated attacks on journalists and judges by a favored member of his party, whom he fears to expel. He is the president of the party of those irrevocably convicted by Justice who attack it when they do not like its decisions.

In short, when the grand words about the rule of law sank to the bottom of an illegal pool.

For “blatant illegality,” the Minister of Health, Adonis Georgiadis, also commented in a post, noting how “the sunbeds around are for the water tank?… You write these things without a shred of shame? And what do the loans of @protothema have to do with the fact that you, the leader of the main opposition party, violated so blatantly? Did you tell yourself, ‘I learned about Proto Thema’s loans so let’s build a pool where it is prohibited by the Constitution?’ …and you are a ‘Leftist and Environmentalist’?” Adonis Georgiadis specifically mentioned on the X platform.

Οι ξαπλώστρες γύρω γύρω είναι για την δεξαμενή του νερού;….μα τα γράφετε αυτά χωρίς ίχνος ντροπής; Και τί σχέση έχουν τα όποια δάνεια του @protothema που εσείς, ο αρχηγός της Αξιωματικής Αντιπολιτεύσεως παρανομήσατε τόσο εξόφθαλμα; Δηλ είπατε στον εαυτό σας; «Έμαθα αυτά για τα…

— Άδωνις Γεωργιάδης (@AdonisGeorgiadi) August 3, 2024

Kasselakis: Reservoir and well were beautified

Responding more than four hours after the issue was publicized, the President of SYRIZA PS, Stefanos Kasselakis, claimed that it is not a “pool,” but that “an older water reservoir, which had existed for decades in the exact same place (as well as a well), was beautified. WITHOUT ANY EXCAVATION.”

Avoiding reference to the rest of the surrounding area, where sunbeds are clearly visible, Mr. Kasselakis admitted that he himself ordered its construction, as “in May 2023 I asked my engineers to submit all the relevant documents so that all renovation work permits for the house could be issued,” as he said, emphasizing that the pool at his holiday home is only… 1.40 meters deep.

Following this, “sometimes it is better not to respond at all than to write ‘an older water reservoir was beautified’ to cover up the mess,” Government Spokesman Pavlos Marinakis reiterated, while the revelation by “Thema” was already making rounds on the internet and social media.

Subsequently, the baton of controversy was taken by Koumoundouros, responding to ND with a lengthy announcement, emphasizing that “for every ‘pool’ they invent, SYRIZA-PS will respond with another proof of their entanglement,” while also attacking Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The full announcement:

He talks about a “pool” the bottomless well of entanglement: the Mitsotakis government, through its representative, Pavlos Marinakis, hastened to adopt “hook, line, and sinker” the entire so-called report of “Proto Thema” about the so-called “Kasselakis pool” to attack SYRIZA and its president.

The attacks from Maximos, through their paid guns, are now predictable. The more mud they throw at the fan, the more they reveal their panic.

Only panic is a bad advisor: the continued attempt to cover up the wiretapping scandal, with the latest episode being the government farce in the Institutions and Transparency Committee, along with the attempt to divert public attention, will drag both the government and its friends in the business and publishing establishment to the bottom.

For every “pool” they invent, SYRIZA-PS will respond with another proof of their entanglement.

P.S.: It becomes a farce when ND demands answers, while it and its president have never given any. About those 39 properties of Kyriakos Mitsotakis with the salary of an MP, the Voltaire house in Paris, the newly acquired properties on the “untrodden” mountain of Zagori, and of course the NON-declaration of assets for the last two years, will they ever utter a word?

It should be noted that the construction of a pool on the island of Spetses is strictly and categorically prohibited by decision 2471/2016 of the Council of State, which expressly states: “Therefore, the construction of swimming pools in the uncovered area of buildings within traditional settlements, and especially in Spetses, is prohibited, as the aforementioned provisions do not explicitly provide for the construction of swimming pools in the uncovered area of buildings. The only reservoirs permitted are water storage tanks, which must be placed within the roof or on the rooftop of buildings, in such a way as not to cause aesthetic disturbance.”