Mitsotakis says judicial process has addressed questions about Israeli-made spyware use in Greece

Overview

Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis told reporters in Thessaloniki that judicial authorities have answered any questions tied to the use of an Israeli-made surveillance tool in Greece. The case involves the software Predator and a reported list of at least 87 targeted people, including politicians and journalists.

What Mitsotakis said

Asked whether Greek state services had acquired or used Predator, Mitsotakis said the case "came to light four years ago" and that he has repeatedly addressed it in Parliament. He stated that Justice has judged any connection between the matter and state services and that he had "said everything I have to say on the wiretapping issue."

Legal developments to date

In February, a Greek court convicted four individuals, including Dilian, of breaching the confidentiality of telephone communications. During that trial new evidence prompted prosecutors to ask for investigations into whether additional parties were involved. A Supreme Court prosecutor rejected that request.

Dilian has repeatedly asserted that his firm sells Predator only to government agencies and that the company is not involved in how the software is used. Those statements conflict with official government claims that its services were not involved with companies linked to the wiretapping scandal.

Political context and the rule of law

Mitsotakis framed questions about Greece's rule of law by pointing to a recent European Commission report, saying the country's progress is significant and that the commission is strict on rule-of-law issues. He challenged the notion that the opposition should be the standard-bearer for judging the state of the rule of law, asking rhetorically whether the opposition or the EU is the proper judge.

Where things stand now

Court convictions have been handed down in the first instance and requests to widen the probe were turned down by a Supreme Court prosecutor. Dilian's public claims about how his company operates remain at odds with government statements denying involvement with companies tied to the scandal. Mitsotakis has signaled he will not engage in a public debate with a convicted individual while legal appeals remain possible.

Practical takeaway

The immediate legal chapter produced convictions and a decision not to expand the investigation at the Supreme Court prosecutor level. Political contention continues: the government points to judicial processes and EU assessments as validation, while critics seek further transparency and potential parliamentary probes.