Greek opposition demands answers over alleged remarks by U.S. ambassador

Greece’s opposition has demanded explanations from the government of Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis over the alleged remarks of the United States ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, during an official dinner in Athens in March, as eKathimerini reports.

According to an investigation published online by the Wall Street Journal on the evening of September 25, Guilfoyle allegedly said during a conversation about the expected fall of Romania’s government: “We can do this to any country we want. We can do it here.”

Greek Energy Minister Stavros Papastavrou, who was at the dinner, reportedly pushed back in front of the guests, stressing that the United States cannot replace a Greek government elected by the people. Guilfoyle’s lawyer has disputed this version of the exchange, according to the Wall Street Journal investigation.

The context of the conversation relates to the Vertical Corridor gas project, which envisages transporting American liquefied natural gas to Central and Eastern Europe. In the background is also the fact that Ilie Bolojan’s government in Romania fell in a no-confidence vote on May 5.

The alleged remarks have opened a heated political debate in Athens, with the opposition demanding clear answers from the government about the content and tone of the American diplomat’s messages.