Phone hacking furor to again heat up during Parliament debate, scrutiny by transparency com’t

A Parliament debate revolving around an alleged but explosive case of mobile phone hacking in the country – as well as an earlier revelation of prosecutor-approved wiretaps – is set to begin in early December, the government spokesman said on Tuesday.

Debate will revolve around a draft bill enacting changes in the country’s national intelligence agency (EYP), as well as the use and availability of phone hacking and tracking software, such as the notorious Predator software. The draft legislation has already been unveiled, with Tuesday marking the last day for public feedback.

Sensational media claims that dozens of people, including past and present ministers, some of their spouses, journalists and others, had their phones hacked and conversations taped, have caused a furor in the country. A handful of media outlets have also charged that the alleged electronic eavesdropping leads back to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ inner circle.

At the same time, the most prominent instance of “official wiretapping” involved PASOK-KINAL party leader Nikos Androulakis, whose phone was indeed bugged by EYP following approval of a request by the latter from a top prosecutor. The reason for the eavesdropping against Androulakis, who still serves as a MEP in Brussels, during a period when he was vying for the party leadership has not been disclosed.

On its part, the government has sharply countered that allegations of organized and state-coordinated hacking of mobile phones are the product of baseless, anonymous and partisan press articles. The government also charged that main opposition SYRIZA is trying to keep the furor in the headlines with “fiction and unsubstantiated stories”.

Additionally, before a Parliament plenum convenes to debate and vote on the draft bill, members of the legislature’s institutions and transparency committee will convene next week to hear testimony regarding the alleged hacking, ostensibly from four individuals subpoenaed to appear.

The session will convene after a request by opposition deputies.

The most prominent witness to be called is Grigoris Dimitriadis, the former chief of staff of the prime minister’s office, who resigned in the wake of the revelation that Androulakis’ phone had been bugged by the intelligence service. The other three individuals are widely believed to be representatives, managers or owners of a firm marketing the Predator software in the Greek market.

It remains to be seen whether any of the latter three subpoenaed witnesses will actually be in Parliament to provide answers to deputy-members of the committee.

On his part, Androulakis has warned that PASOK-KINAL deputies will vote against the draft bill if certain amendments are not made.