Greek lawmakers voted on Monday for a parliamentary investigation into the wiretapping of PASOK leader Nikos Androulakis’ phone by Greece’s intelligence service (EYP).
The motion to establish the commission received the backing of 142 of the 299 lawmakers present in Parliament for the vote, held on Monday evening.
All ruling New Democracy government’s 157 MPs essentially abstained by voting “present.” The party earlier said it was not opposed to the proposal but wanted the investigation to be extended further back in time, in order to gain a fuller picture, as also requested by the Communist Party.
According to AP News, the commission — where government lawmakers will have a majority — will have at least a month to carry out the probe.
Parliamentary Speaker, Kostas Tasoulas, said 29 MPs will participate in the committee. Fifteen members will come from New Democracy, 8 from SYRIZA, 2 from PASOK-Movement of Change, 1 from the Communist Party, 1 from Greek Solution, 1 from MeRA25 and 1 from the group of independent MPs.
Parliament returned early from its summer break for the debate, called by the main opposition SYRIZA party after revelations that Androulakis was put under surveillance for three months last year when he was running for his PASOK party’s leadership.
Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, has since said he was unaware of the phone tap, describing it as a mistake that should have never occurred.
The head of EYP resigned over the scandal with Greek diplomat, Themistoklis Demiris, recently appointed by a parliamentary committee the new chief.
READ MORE: EU parliament to probe ‘inexcusable’ phone tapping of Greek politician.
