A new round of fierce political confrontation erupted in Parliament over the Novartis case, following the serious allegations made from the floor of the plenary session by independent lawmaker Marios Salmas against Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis.
Mr. Salmas’s statement came during the debate on the prosecutor’s motion to lift his parliamentary immunity, following a lawsuit filed against him by Mr. Georgiadis for defamation. The former New Democracy lawmaker claimed that he has evidence which, in his view, warrants a reexamination of the Novartis case.
The allegations against Nikos Maniadakis
Marios Salmas claimed that Adonis Georgiadis was in contact with Nikos Maniadakis during the period when Maniadakis was a protected witness in the Novartis case.
According to what he stated in the Plenary Session, the minister allegedly instructed Mr. Maniadakis on how to testify and what information to withhold from the then-anti-corruption prosecutor, Eleni Touloupaki. Mr. Salmas further claimed that there was a promise of a quid pro quo or future support.
To support his allegations, he submitted text messages to Parliament which, as he claimed, he himself had exchanged with Adonis Georgiadis and which he believes substantiate his claims. The content and evidentiary value of this specific evidence have not yet been determined by a court.
References to Media Funding
The independent lawmaker also accused the health minister of asking the then-vice president of Novartis Greece, Konstantinos Frouzis, to provide funds to the media.
Mr. Salmas described the actions he outlined as «the very definition of collusion» and referred to passive bribery. These, however, are allegations made by the member of parliament, which Mr. Georgiadis categorically rejects.
«Reopen the Novartis case»
Concluding his speech, Marios Salmas asked the House of Representatives to forward the evidence he had submitted to the relevant prosecuting authorities. At the same time, he called on the judiciary to reopen the Novartis case, stating that he was prepared to submit additional evidence.
The allegations prompted immediate reactions from the opposition parties. PASOK parliamentary spokesperson Dimitris Mantzos called for a judicial investigation into the allegations and clear answers from the Minister of Health, while Pavlos Polakis and Zoe Konstantopoulou launched a fierce attack against Mr. Georgiadis.
The answer Georgiades
Adonis Georgiadis dismissed the allegations as «nonsense» and claimed that Marios Salmas is once again attempting to slander him.
In a post, he stated that one of the documents presented was an affidavit he had signed in support of Nikos Maniadakis, which had been submitted as part of legal proceedings. At the same time, he stated that he has no intention of engaging in a public debate with his former party colleague and that their dispute will continue in the courtrooms.
The Minister of Health expressed his confidence in the Greek justice system, emphasizing that he has nothing to fear and that he will take legal action against anyone who questions his moral integrity.
The documents submitted by Marios Salmas to the Parliamentary Record were made public by Pavlos Polakis:
