ATHENS — "The amendment granting immunity from prosecution to the members of the health ministry's committees is a cynical admission of the government's guilt for its tragic handling of the pandemic," main opposition SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance leader Alexis Tsipras said in a message on social media posted on Friday.

"It primarily attacks the scientists and demolishes any trust that remained in Greek society toward the scientific community, a fact that is exceptionally unpleasant and dangerous," Tsipras added.

At the same time, he pointed out, "let us be honest: the immunity is not for the scientists. Their role was, in any case, advisory based on the law. The immunity is for the government members and aides of [Prime Minister Kyriakos] Mitsotakis who make up the committees."

It was these aides and government executives, who took part in the meetings with the ministers and applied strong pressure in the direction of pre-determined government decisions, Tsipras said, adding: "It concerns those responsible for the failed six-month lockdown and the collapse of the national health system."

For this reason, he commented, the amendment did not just grant immunity but also forbid members of the Committees from testifying in the case of a judicial investigation. Tsipras accused the government of being afraid that the scientists on the committees might be summoned to testify and tell the truth about the pressures put upon them and thus reveal who was behind crucial decisions.

"This was, in any case, the reason why they have been hiding the minutes of the meetings all these months," he said.

"The prime minister who has made the individual responsibility of the citizens his banner and who, the other day, shunted even the responsibility of not getting vaccinated to people fighting for their lives on ventilators, is legislating for the immunity of his partners from any responsibility for their decisions," he concluded.