‘We must not reach the point where the government is forced to move to Plan B,’ Mr. Marinakis said, speaking on Parapolitika 90.1 radio. He clarified that in such a case there would be ‘more sanctions and consequences for those who, while dialogue is being requested on behalf of all farmers, refuse dialogue. Certainly, as happened with the toll booths where the barriers were lifted and the police immediately forwarded the material to the Justice system, those who caused any damage will face any criminal and any administrative/civil liabilities,’ he said.

‘There are no victims’ relatives of two speeds’

Asked about the AADE audit of the Association of Relatives of the Tempi Victims, Mr. Marinakis noted that ‘there was no issue of prioritization; a complaint was filed and I assume, I understand, that it is being checked like all similar public complaints. It would have been a problem if no audit had taken place, because then one could speak of a cover-up. There are no victims’ relatives of two speeds. Just as sacred as a mother who lost her daughter or son, just as sacred is another relative who publicly says something different—and we do not put them on a scale—as with every tragedy, every tragic accident. There is no vindictive intent.’

The government spokesperson also commented on Ms. Karystianou’s post about the head of AADE. ‘I do not think it is good to target someone personally and create an impression in society, for example, that Mr. Pitsilis or his predecessors enjoy some kind of special immunity. There is no immunity; they are prosecuted normally.’

P. Marinakis: Plan B for the roadblocks and our intention to change the Ministerial Liability Law

‘Cover-up? The opposite’

Mr. Marinakis rejected allegations of a cover-up, saying that the government has restored order in stadiums and universities and that major criminal organizations ‘have been brought before Justice.’ Regarding OPEKEPE, he said that ‘it has not succeeded so far’ and that this must be said ‘with political courage.’

He made special reference to the Tempi tragedy: ‘For the first time, the Justice system will judge such a serious tragedy with so many defendants… 36 defendants, 33 for felonies,’ he said, adding that Kostas Karamanlis and Christos Triantopoulos will be judged by a judicial council.

‘If we do what we should, the public will probably re-elect us’

Mr. Marinakis linked single-party majority rule with effectiveness and the comparison between ‘program and record.’ He rejected the ‘to hell with it’ approach to politics, saying that it does not produce results.

On the question of post-election cooperation, he said that if such an issue ever arises, ‘recent political history’ points to PASOK as a potential interlocutor. However, he noted that ‘there is not one PASOK,’ describing the discussion as ‘premature’ and ‘fluid.’ At the same time, he took a jab, saying that ‘we produce more one-man parties and more “sages” than we can consume as a country.’