Greek diplomat, Themistoklis Demiris, was appointed by a parliamentary committee on Wednesday the new chief of Greece’s intelligence service (EYP), Ekathimerini has reported.
Demiris, 70, a secretary general at Greece’s foreign ministry, has served as Ambassador to Italy, Cyprus and the European Union.
In a statement, the parliament’s President said Demiris’ appointment was cleared by the parliament’s 19-member institutions and transparency committee after a closed-door hearing.
The ruling New Democracy party has 10 members in the committee. Members of the political opposition did not endorse his appointment.
This appointment comes after his predecessor, Panagiotis Kontoleon, was sacked following the wiretapping scandal involving the phone of PASOK leader, Nikos Androulakis.
Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, whose party faces an election next year, said earlier this month he was unaware that Androulakis’ phone had been tapped.
The European Parliament said it will cooperate with Greek authorities to investigate the “intolerable and inexcusable” phone tapping, after calls from Greece’s President Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
Source: Ekathimerini.
