A call to the journalist and resigned director of “Kathimerini”, Andrea Paraschos, “either to substantiate the unfounded allegations in his recent article or to admit that he was a victim of misinformation”, addresses President Anastasiadis, who speaks of of his name, either in whispers or through false publications “.
The following is the statement of the President:
“I watch with sadness an orchestrated attempt to tarnish my name either with whispers or through false posts.
With full respect for the freedom of the media but also for the freedom of speech, I avoided in my 40-year presence in the political events of our country, any exercise of my legal rights, recognizing that the involvement in the public has as a consequence the inalienable right of the media and of its representatives to judge me or even to criticize me.
READ ALSO: Paraschos calls on political leaders to confirm it (audio)
The tolerance for criticism, however, seems to have been misinterpreted by some who, even with malicious and false publications or whispers, consider that they offer a good service to the place and the people.
“After the categorical denial by the former Prime Minister of Greece, Alexis Tsipras, I would like to call on my friend journalist Andreas Paraschos to either substantiate what he unfoundedly stated in his recent article, or to admit that he was a victim of misinformation.”
Statement by the Government Spokesperson
Government spokesman Kyriakos Kousios also spoke on the issue, saying that the President of the Republic in no way intervened in the matter, which arose with journalist Andreas Paraschos and “Kathimerini”, as no intervention was made by an official. or an official of the Presidential Palace “.
The following is the statement of Mr. Kousios:
“Regarding the announcement of the Writers' Union on the issue that arose with the journalist Mr. Andreas Paraschos and the newspaper in which he worked, and that, as mentioned in the announcement, the whole incident leaves the detainees exposed and in particular the presidential environment, we just want to point out that the journalist, both in his resignation letter and in his statements today on Politis radio, made it clear in the clearest and most unequivocal way that he is convinced that neither the President of the Republic nor anyone else from the Presidential Palace or the Government intervened to the publishers of the newspaper.
Furthermore, Mr. Paraschos stated “I have written incredible things about the President from time to time, I have written an article in 2018 with a harsh title about the President of the Republic and the President neither called nor threatened”.
The President of the Republic in no case intervened in the matter as no intervention was made by an official or official of the Presidential Palace.
It is well known, moreover, that the President of the Republic in his 40-year political career has practically proved that he accepts the criticism of the press, no matter how harsh it is.
These are for the restoration of the true facts and the placement of things on their correct basis “.
