We have some good good news: Andreas has been acquitted, for the third time, by the Greek Council of Appeals on the charge of falsifying the 2009 budget data and causing Greece damage of 171 billion euro. Moreover, analysts at the Greek newspaper Kathimerini suggest that it will be difficult to open the case again, since this is now the third time the charges have been examined (with a different composition of judges each time). Additionally, and perhaps more telling than the decision itself, the Greek mainstream press has had uncharacteristically few negative commentaries so far. The Greek people may themselves be tired of the saga and ready to move on, and perhaps Andreas’ persecutors are able to sense the mood of the populace.
This case is at the heart of the prosecution, and a solid closure in in Andreas’ favor would be a significant turning point. So… it is a moment for Andreas’ friends & supporters to breathe a sign of relief, and appreciate the possibility of a light at the end of the tunnel.
However, there are two factors to temper the celebrations. First, as we know from the two previous acquittals in this case, this recent acquittal decision can be annulled. The decision starts a month long period in which the acquittal can be annulled by a proposal of the Chief Prosecutor of the Greek Supreme Court. She has done it twice before. So, until this period has passed, the celebrations are premature. Second, there are still three other cases outstanding – there is plenty of ammo in the hopper to keep this saga going for quite a while longer. So… let’s be glad the decision did not go the other way, and keep a watchful lookout for the next 30 days. This will tell us more clearly whether the winds of change are at last blowing in Andreas’ favor.