Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos told a prosecutor investigating claims of an attempt to bribe MPs that the government has allegedly used the Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE) to pressure lawmakers from his party.

Panayiotis Panayiotopoulos is probing a report in Kontra News daily that alleged businessmen were gathering cash to bribe MPs to support the government’s presidential candidate.

While Kammenos admitted that he did not have direct evidence of such a plan, he said that he informed the prosecutor of legislation he believes was specifically designed to serve certain business interests, as well as alleged checks by SDOE on his deputies.

Kammenos attributed the departure of two of his party’s MPs to these actions.

“Two stayed and two left without any political reason but amid rumours that they faced criminal extortion,” said the Independent Greeks chief.

Panayiotopoulos is also due to call the two businessmen referred to in the Kontra News report.

They are alleged to have discussed creating a fund to buy MPs’ votes at their children’s wedding.

Source: Kathimerini