European lawmaker for Greek main opposition resigns amid sexual harassment allegations

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – A European lawmaker for Greece’s main opposition SYRIZA party resigned from his party amid sexual harassment allegations, local media reported on Tuesday.

The move followed European Parliament’s reception of a request to lift his immunity as part of an investigation into alleged sexual harassment from three years ago, the daily Kathimerini reported.

Meanwhile, lawmaker Alexis Georgoulis denied the allegations, according to the newspaper.

“Unfortunately, we live in difficult and dangerous times. In the face of this false and insulting attack, which is being conducted -- probably not by chance -- a few days before the national elections, I intend to fight my battle through the justice system, for the truth and the restoration of my good name,” Georgoulis said.

He stressed that he will resign because he does not want to influence the struggle of his party with a purely personal issue.

On Monday, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola informed the body that she had received a request from the competent Belgian authorities to lift Georgoulis’s parliamentary immunity.