Main opposition PASOK-Movement for Change again criticised the government on Thursday for seeking to bypass the investigation into the actions of former deputy minister Christos Triantopoulos in Parliament and instead refer him directly to be investigated by justice.

"Triantopoulos' statement is not an act of bravery. For the government, it is an act of political cowardice. After the bulldozing, they are digging 'escape tunnels' from the preliminary parliamentary investigation because they are afraid," said PASOK spokesperson Kostas Tsoukalas to the public broadcaster ERT.

Asked if PASOK trusts the Judicial Council, Kostas Tsoukalas emphasised that "we have confidence in the Judicial Council” and that “ the process at the Judicial Council is proceeding with the evidence it has." 

“ Why shouldn’t we collect evidence? The fact that we are currently discussing the procedure by which Mr. Triantopoulos will be referred is because PASOK - Movement for Change made the request for a preliminary investigation in parliament. We will not consent to the procedure provided for in the Constitution not being followed," he stressed.

Regarding the arrest and jailing on remand of the mayor of Istanbul, Tsoukalas commented that "global public opinion is currently numb to what is happening in Turkiye because no one wants to confront or publicly criticise Recep Tayyip Erdogan during this period of significant geopolitical realignments."