Request for the waiver of the immunity of Georgios Kyrtsos

The Committee on Legal Affairs adopted the report by Laura FERRARA (EFDD, IT) on the request for waiver of the immunity of Georgios KYRTSOS (EPP, EL).

As a reminder, the Prosecutor’s Office at the Supreme Court of Greece requested the waiver of the immunity of Georgios Kyrtsos, Member of the European Parliament, in connection with criminal proceedings referring to the non-payment of amounts owing to the State (exceeding EUR 200 000), under the provisions of certain Greek laws.

In his capacity as legal representative of Free Sunday Publishing House Ltd, he is accused of failing to pay EUR 627 752.65 owed to the State.

The Committee on Legal Affairs considered that the alleged offence clearly has no direct link with the office of Georgios Kyrtsos as a Member of the European Parliament, but instead relates to his former position as manager of his newspaper company.

It was found that there is no reason to suspect that the intention underlying criminal proceedings is to damage a Member’s political activity (fumus persecutionis).

Consequently, the committee recommended the European Parliament to waive the immunity of Georgios Kyrtsos.