Supreme Court prosecutor orders prosecution of Kasidiaris, 11 Spartiates MPs
Supreme Court Prosecutor Georgia Adilini on Thursday ordered the criminal prosecution of 11 opposition MPs of the Spartiates party, as well as jailed former Golden Dawn MP Ilias Kasidiaris, on charges of defrauding the electorate. The head of the Spartiates party, Vasilis Stigas, is not being prosecuted.
Prespa agreement challenged in North Macedonia pre-election debate
The leader of the main opposition party in North Macedonia has said that if elected prime minister, he would refer to the country solely as “Macedonia,” regardless of the 2018 Prespa Agreement that settled the dispute with Greece over the country’s name.
Britain approves extradition of former Greek judge who fled jail sentence for money laundering
A former judge playing a key role in a criminal ring that involved bribery for favorable court decisions will be extradited to Greece, it was announced on Thursday.
Hatzidakis: The new EU economic and fiscal framework is good for our country
“We have to be serious as regards fiscal policy and we will be. We believe in fiscal seriousness,” National Economy and Finance Minister Kostis Hatzidakis said while briefing the parliament’s Finance and European Affairs Committees on Thursday.
ATHEX: Small gains for index at day’s end
Stocks went up, then down, and eventually – in the closing auctions – back up, during Thursday’s session of the Greek bourse. Traders appeared reluctant to bring the benchmark closer to the 1,400-point level, as they obviously need a pretext for a solid recovery, following the recent decline.
https://www.ekathimerini.com/economy/1235629/athex-small-gains-for-index-at-days-end
Due to the strike in the newspaper distribution company there is no press circulation today
DRIVING THE DAY: PIEPERGATE STALKS EU EXECUTIVE
EASTER SCANDAL: Ursula von der Leyen may want to keep grubby politics at bay for as long as possible as she eyes a second term at the head of the EU executive branch after the June Parliament election. But politics just won’t leave her alone, with the Piepergate scandal taking on a life of its own during one of the quieter weeks in the EU bubble’s calendar.
SME envoy role in focus: First reported on Italian journalist David Carretta’s blog, the saga centers on allegations that von der Leyen’s office improperly selected a political ally, Markus Pieper, for a plum job in the Commission as “SME envoy” — over other candidates who reportedly performed better on tests than he did.
Times are a-changin’: Typically, this kind of story would rattle around the bubble, prompt a few outraged comments from the European Parliament, then fizzle amid a lack of media oxygen and stonewalling from the Commission.
But that’s not happening now. In a major escalation, four of von der Leyen’s most senior colleagues in the Commission — French Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton, Italian Economy chief Paolo Gentiloni, top EU envoy Josep Borrell and jobs chief Nicolas Schmit — have demanded answers from their boss.
Putting it in writing: In a leaked letter obtained by POLITICO‘s Giovanna Faggionato, the four commissioners allege Pieper’s appointment raises “questions about the transparency and impartiality of the process” and ask for the matter to be discussed in person when the College meets again next week.
No more Mr. Nice Guy: It’s an unusually bold rebellion for an institution that eschews politics and loves the word “collegiality.” But with the EU election less than three months away and von der Leyen the clear favorite, such considerations appear to be flying out the window.
Rebels: All four commissioners who signed the letter are political rivals of von der Leyen, who won her European People’s Party’s endorsement to run as the group’s lead candidate in the upcoming ballot. Schmit is the lead candidate of the center-left S&D group, which is currently polling in second place behind the EPP. Breton has been especially vocal, drawing criticism last month for tweeting that von der Leyen was “isolated” in her camp.
What politics? In a statement to Playbook, the Secretary-General of the S&D group Giacomo Filibeck wrote: “I would not read a political campaign move into this. It is clearly an internal governance issue.”
But, he added: “It needs to be proven that the Commission followed a fair and transparent process when making this appointment. Based on what’s being reported, it is right that questions are being asked.” A spokesperson for the EPP did not immediately reply to a request for comment.
Commission’s defense: Speaking to reporters at Thursday’s midday briefing, Commission spokesperson Eric Mamer tried to stamp out the flames. “The Commission has full confidence in the fact that the procedures were followed and that the person who was ultimately selected was selected based on his performance during the entirety of the selection process,” he said.
Just getting started: Yet there’s reason to believe Piepergate may last longer than your stash of Easter eggs. One of the candidates for the SME envoy role, Czech lawmaker Martina Dlabajová, has filed an official complaint. A group of lawmakers has asked the Commission to clarify whether Pieper actually did better than the other candidates for the role, amid reports he in fact under-performed by a significant margin.
Expect more of this next week, when the rebellious commissioners get a chance to grill von der Leyen in person as they gather for their first College meeting since the scandal broke. The din is likely to grow louder still as advocacy groups drill down on allegations that the high-paying SME role (its salary is pegged at around €15,000 per month, before tax) appears to have been tailor-made for Pieper and could have been awarded in exchange for the CDU backing von der Leyen for the top job.
That’s not all. Less than three months before the Parliament election, von der Leyen is facing an increasingly crowded political minefield. Piepergate comes hot on the heels of Pfizergate, which focuses on von der Leyen’s use of text messages to secure contracts to purchase vaccines — and which has given rise to a probe by the European Prosecutor’s office, as revealed by POLITICO earlier this week.
Non-committal: In an interview with POLITICO in Paris, Emmanuel Macron’s lead candidate for the EU election Valérie Hayer refused to endorse von der Leyen for a second term. “I won’t rule out voting for her again, I won’t rule out not voting for her again,” she said.
Bottom line: Von der Leyen’s rivals are taking their gloves off in an increasingly political campaign to run the Commission for the next five years. But the Commission president has yet to unveil her campaign team, and her campaign account on X has been mute for a month. As attacks mount, the aloofness is starting to look like a liability.
MORE ELECTIONEERING
BIG IN PLACE LUX, ANONYMOUS EVERYWHERE ELSE: At least there’s some good news for von der Leyen from a survey of 5,200 citizens of France, Germany, Denmark, Lithuania and Slovakia, commissioned by the Catalan separatist Junts party’s delegation in the European Parliament.
VDL 1, Michel 0: Nearly three-quarters of respondents (74.4 percent) correctly identified von der Leyen from a photo — while less than half recognized European Council President Charles Michel (40 percent).
The Catalan twist: But the survey highlighted that most of the EU’s big names are unfamiliar to the average European: Parliament President Roberta Metsola was identified by 36.6 percent of respondents, Socialists and Democrats leader Iratxe García by 35.6 percent, and European People’s Party chief Manfred Weber 35.2 percent. Meanwhile, almost 38 percent of respondents could identify Catalan independence leader Carles Puigdemont. Aitor Hernández-Morales has the write-up.
NEXT STEPS FOR JOUROVÁ: European Commission Vice President Věra Jourová is eyeing a job at the Charles University in Prague when she leaves the Berlaymont after the EU election, Czech site Hospodářské Noviny reported. A person close to Jourová confirmed this to our colleagues over at the Morning Tech newsletter.
HOW EUROPE’S FLORIDA LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND START LOVING LE PEN: The French Riviera has for decades been a right-wing stronghold. With the EU election approaching, the locals Elisa Braun spoke to (those who actually knew about the ballot) made it clear the area is Marine Le Pen country. Worth your time.
Now read this: Here’s what Le Pen in power would really mean for France and the EU, by Mujtaba Rahman.
HUNGARY’S REBEL
RARE DISSENT: He runs his government with an iron grip and extends his influence through the media and judicial systems throughout Hungary. But Prime Minister Viktor Orbán is grappling with one of the biggest threats to his rule since he won a decisive fifth term in 2022, Suzanne Lynch writes in to report.
Magyar goes rogue: Once a darling of the Fidesz party, Péter Magyar — best known as the ex-husband of former Hungarian Justice Minister Judit Varga — will hold a rally on Saturday in central Budapest. Kick-off is 3 p.m.
Background: Magyar burst onto the political scene in recent weeks after he released a taped recording of his ex-wife apparently incriminating senior members of Orbán’s circle in a corruption scandal that has engulfed his government and contributed to Varga’s own shock resignation as minister in February.
Playbook interview: Responding to questions from POLITICO, Magyar told Suzanne he believes Orbán will ultimately be questioned over the corruption scandal, despite political pressure on the public prosecutor’s office not to act. “In my view the questioning of some members of the government including Prime Minister Orbán is inevitable.”
Smoking gun: Magyar alleges his tape shows Antal Rogán, Orbán’s chef de Cabinet, tampered with documents related to a sprawling corruption dispute involving Pál Völner, a former state secretary in the justice ministry when Varga was minister. Völner resigned in 2021 after prosecutors accused him of taking bribes. A spokesman for the Hungarian government dismissed Magyar’s allegations of corruption.
Time for change: Magyar, who has urged Hungarians to “rise up” and attend the rally, says he believes people have “had enough.” They know about “the functioning of this regime, the propaganda, the corruption, the whole political power factory, the hypocrisy of the political elite including the so-called opposition.”
Serious allegations: Questioned about Varga’s statement that she had been a victim of domestic abuse during their marriage, Magyar said: “I have never hurt my ex-wife, the mother of my three kids,” describing their union as “hectic from both sides.” He added: “This whole story is part of the propaganda campaign but it is totally counter-productive.”
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FOCUS ON SLOVAKIA
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION: Slovaks head to the polls this Saturday to choose their next president in a runoff between parliamentary Speaker Peter Pellegrini (Kremlin-friendly Prime Minister Robert Fico’s man) and former Foreign Minister Ivan Korčok (the pro-West candidate).
What’s at stake: While the Slovak presidency does not lend one much power, the election is symbolically significant. If Pellegrini wins, Fico’s government will have an easier ride as it seeks to pass controversial reforms that have led Brussels to worry about the rule of law in the country.
Latest example: During a visit on Thursday to the Ministry of Justice in Bratislava, Fico made a thinly veiled threat against judges on the country’s Supreme Court who have in the past ruled against his political colleagues and allies in criminal cases.
What the polls say: It’s neck-and-neck, with Ipsos predicting a dead heat. In the first round last month, Korčok notched a surprise win on 42 percent of the vote to Pellegrini’s 37 percent, despite the latter being the pollsters’ favorite.
Now read this: Slovakia’s presidential runoff is a contest between the West and Russia, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute in Washington D.C. Dalibor Rohac writes in this opinion piece for POLITICO.
RUSSIA’S WAR
KYIV TO TRUMP — CHANNEL REAGAN: Donald Trump and the Republicans must remember they’re the party of Ronald Reagan and support Ukraine as Russian forces build up for a major offensive from May or June, said Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, in an interview with my colleague Jamie Dettmer in Kyiv on Thursday evening.
Staying positive: “I don’t believe anybody who represents the party of Ronald Reagan will abandon Ukraine. Reagan understood the Soviet Union and Russia, and anyone who does will continue to support our fighters because they understand that dictators never stop voluntarily and have to be stopped,” Yermak said.
NOT SO POSITIVE 1: Russia has rebuilt its military after suffering enormous losses according to U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, writes DefenseNews. “We have assessed over the course of the last couple of months that Russia has almost completely reconstituted militarily,” he said.
NOT SO POSITIVE 2: The Pentagon is defending its rollout of weapons to Ukraine. Officials in Kyiv accused the U.S. of dragging its feet, arguing it might already be too late to help turn the tide of the war in Ukraine’s favor. “There’s nothing that can help Ukraine now,” one of the officials worryingly told my U.S-based colleague Matt Berg.
FINLAND EXTENDS RUSSIA BORDER CLOSURE: Finland will indefinitely extend the closure of land border crossings with Russia and add several ports to the travel ban, the government said on Thursday. Reuters has more.
PERILS OF COMMUNICATION: France and Russia are at loggerheads over clashing readouts of a call between France’s Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu and Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Former French President François Hollande said Paris should seek “no contact with Russia.” Clea Caulcutt and Laura Kayali have more.
ISRAEL-GAZA
BIDEN WARNS BIBI: U.S. President Joe Biden delivered his sharpest rebuke to Israel since the war began, calling for an “immediate cease-fire” on Thursday night during a call with Benjamin Netanyahu. Biden also said American support for Israel’s actions hinge on “immediate action” on protecting civilians in Gaza. My Washington colleagues have more here.
Olive branch: Israel says it has approved the opening of two humanitarian routes into Gaza, the Erez Gate and Ashdod Port, to allow more aid to flow into the strip. The BBC has a write-up.
MEP QUITS ISRAEL DELEGATION: Meanwhile, Spanish MEP Ana Miranda Paz, from the Greens/European Free Alliance group, announced Thursday she was quitting the European Parliament’s delegation for relations with Israel “because it supports Zionism” and called on Roberta Metsola to bar Israeli diplomats from the institution.
EU ENLARGEMENT
NORTH MACEDONIA — PRESPA AGREEMENT CHALLENGE: The leader of the main opposition VMRO-DPMNE party Hristijan Mickoski said that if elected prime minister at next month’s election, he would refer to North Macedonia solely as Macedonia. That would imperil the 2018 Prespa Agreement that settled a decades-old dispute with Greece.
Sign of what’s ahead: “For me, Macedonia is and will remain Macedonia. My ancestors would be proud of me for what I do for my people and my country,” Mickoski said during a televised pre-election debate on Wednesday, Nektaria Stamouli writes in to report. Recent polls have VMRO-DPMNE in the lead, with the parliamentary election expected on May 8. Kathimerini has a write-up.
WARNING TO GEORGIA: The EU criticized Georgia’s ruling party’s decision to reintroduce a controversial Russia-inspired foreign agent law, warning that “ensuring media freedom” is critical to the EU accession process. Claudia Chiappa has the write-up.
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IN OTHER NEWS
MACRON ON RWANDA GENOCIDE: Emmanuel Macron says France and allies “could have stopped” the 1994 Rwandan genocide but did not have the will. The Guardian has the story.
FIRMS LOOK TO THE DUTCH EXITS: The Netherlands has long been a welcoming home for multinationals, but after the last election, companies are heading for the exit, Pieter Haeck Koen Verhelst report.
HONEY TRAP UPDATE: Senior U.K. Conservative MP William Wragg admitted leaking personal phone numbers of colleagues who were later targeted in the honey trap scandal that has shaken Westminster politics, saying he was manipulated by a man he encountered on a dating app. Dan Bloom and Aggie Chambre have the story.
WHY DID THE UK QUIT ERASMUS? Because of Brits’ poor language skills, POLITICO’s Jon Stone reveals.ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM: Paul Dallison has some ideas for alternative destinations for Botswana’s unwanted elephants in his latest Declassified humor column.