Just hours after the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought was awarded to two imprisoned journalists in Georgia and Belarus, the Greek press delegation suddenly found itself at police headquarters to support our colleague Nikos Giannopoulos, a reporter for News24/7, in filing a complaint, after MEP and member of SYRIZA, Nikos Pappas, punched him outside a bar where we were having drinks.
The rest is history. The French authorities have now taken over, and I have nothing to add except sharing the shock of those of us on a European Parliament reporting mission for the December plenary. We were shocked at the sheer violence, but also at what the MEP said to Nikos Giannopoulos seconds after he punched him: ‘How could I not hit you being the way you are?’ That came from a 1.97-meter, 100-kilo-plus man talking to Nikos, a man of average build. The shock turned into anger, because the next morning the MEP showed up as if nothing had happened and sat next to all of us at breakfast in the hotel, treating us all like complete idiots, as if what happened was something normal or trivial. Nikos also told us that the MEP had been calling and texting him throughout the night.
There is nothing that could justify such an attack, so we are not even talking about an unprovoked assault. It’s outright thuggery. For the record, eight years ago, Nikos —then a sports reporter— reported a tip that Mr. Pappas would be left off the national team roster, something that infuriated the former professional basketball player. Now, really?
There is nothing that could justify such an attack, so we are not even talking about an unprovoked assault. It’s outright thuggery.
Elected MEPs with leading roles in corruption scandals —check. Elected MEP awaiting trial for rape and assault —check. Elected MEPs tied to criminal organizations —check. What was left is an elected MEP beating up a journalist outside a bar. Now we have this, too.
Of course, we didn’t fall from the clouds. In August 2024, the MEP’s conversations and threats against a retired police officer came to light, proving his consistency in verbal abuse. I am not even adding a link; it’s disgusting. I don’t know whether people in his party knew how Mr. Pappas speaks to people or not. Either way, it’s all wrong. Parties put people on the ballot who don’t even meet the basic standards, then cover for them when things go wrong —and we keep voting for them.
A few minutes before I sent this piece to Athens, SYRIZA expelled him from its European parliamentary group, while police were searching for him under the expedited procedure, because obviously violence is not covered by parliamentary immunity. The case has just begun; who knows what will happen the next day.
But today Nikos Giannopoulos fought back against vulgarity and won. We stand with him all the way.
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