ATHENS — Main opposition SYRIZA on Monday demanded that the government also release the original orders and invoices for ads placed during its coronavirus public information campaign, following the publication of list of the sums given to each individual mass media outlet. Otherwise, it warned, this would confirm that "all these weeks, the list was being 'cooked'."

"After an unbelievable 90-day delay, the government spokesperson today served up a list with the 20 million euros given to the media for the coronavirus campaign. It is obliged, however, today, to also publish the initial orders for ad space sent by the company initiative, along with the original invoices," a party announcement said.

"If it does not do this, this will confirm that all these weeks the list was being 'cooked' so that government ministers will avoid their responsibility for squandering public money, even on media outlets that were nonexistent," the party added.

The government must also explain while some media outlets were excluded "simply because they criticise it" and why some were given tiny amounts while those that systematically attack SYRIZA have been richly remunerated, SYRIZA said, noting that this method was being used to create a fake impression of pluralism.