Greek government overrules laws in massive arms purchases: Opposition deputy

By Ahmet Gencturk

ANKARA (AA) – The Greek government has overruled applicable laws in massive arms purchases, an opposition lawmaker said Monday.

In an article she penned for the Efsyn news outlet, Sofia Sakorafa of the MeRA25 party drew attention that dozens of massive arms purchases were approved which cost billions of euros in the last three meetings of parliament’s Standing Committee on National Defense and Foreign Affairs on June 22, 27, and July 4.

While early elections are now a possibility, the government is pressing the committee to accelerate the approval process to fulfill its promises made to the US, she asserted.

Sakorafa noted that the government overrules the legislative frameworks and laws by claiming that these arms deals are “urgent” and consequently uses schemes of government-to-government contacts which the law allowed only in exceptional conditions.

These practices serve clientelism in the country and increase dependence on the US while already impoverished Greek people have to bear the immense cost, she said.

Sakorafa finally called on all Greek political parties -- particularly the main opposition party SYRIZA-PS and Greek Communist Party (KKE) -- to react against the government’s practices.

“This is our responsibility towards the Greek people,” she concluded.

Greece recently also signed multiple big-ticket arms deals with Israel for the purchase of drones and missiles, with France for the purchase of Rafael warplanes, and with the US for the update of its F-16 fighter jets to the latest Viper configuration.

More recently, the US State Department approved the sale of four warships worth $6.9 billion to Greece along with existing frigate modernization transactions worth $2.5 billion.

Greece also expressed interest in purchasing at least 20 US-made F-35 warplanes.

Türkiye has often warned Greece against indulging in an arms race, offering instead to resolve all outstanding issues, including in the Aegean, Eastern Mediterranean and Cyprus, through dialogue.​​​​​​​