Greek government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis has attacked former Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras following comments made during a broadcast interview released on Monday.
Marinakis rejected claims by Tsipras that he had fought financial interests while leading the country, describing the statements by the former prime minister as an attempt to rewrite history.
The political row follows the airing of the first part of an interview in which Tsipras stated that he never negotiated with or served private interests, but instead clashed with powerful groups throughout his term in office.
Responding in an official statement, Marinakis said that reading the headline alongside a photograph of Tsipras initially appeared to be a summer theatrical revue given the time of year. He added that despite sounding unbelievable, the former prime minister had indeed made those assertions during the broadcast.
Questions over legislative record
Marinakis said the government was awaiting the second part of the interview to see whether Tsipras would address several critical questions about his time in office. He asked which other prime minister had kept Parliament open after announcing national elections to pass a Criminal Code requested by specific interests.
The government spokesperson also questioned when an informal shadow justice ministry had ever operated inside the Maximos Mansion, referencing statements previously made by the justice minister in Tsipras's government. Marinakis asked what Tsipras would consider a compromise if those decisions were viewed as a clash with interests, and questioned who was lavishly funding the new political party.
Government response on collective memory
Marinakis said that if Tsipras was not asked these questions during the broadcast, voters might receive answers in future interviews that the former prime minister had avoided giving for years.
He added that Tsipras could continue giving interviews in protected environments in an effort to rewrite history, but warned that collective memory does not erase as easily as he thinks.
