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The Greek Minister of Defence Panos Beglitis urged from the parliamentary rostrum to "cut the naval string that connects the opposition forces with the union of retired military." He referred to the incitement by specific unions of retired military officers to be "in a state of vigilance" and determined their action as "dangerous." The Minister addressed the main opposition party New Democracy "to stop perceiving the army as a historical favoured space."

The statement of the Minister of Defence provoked ardent debate. He turned to the parliamentary plenum and said he is concerned not as the Minister of Defence but as a democratic citizen. Panos Beglitis said that "there is no room for games in the army" and added that "the unity of the military forces with the Greek people is unaffected, because the men in uniforms are an active part of society."

The parliamentary representative of the far-right LAOS Asterios Rondoulis accepted the gauntlet first and said that the Minister has accused New Democracy for the violation of the calm atmosphere in the army, and that he prompted the officers to oppose the government policy.

In response, the Minister of Defence warned the deputy "to be more careful when it comes to such highly sensitive issues" and explained: "I made a call all to be more careful with retired officers and their unions. I did not say what you mean. I do not know whether you want to act as a provocateur. Caution should be exercised."

The secretary of the parliamentary group of New Democracy Costas Tasoulas, a former Deputy Defence Minister in the period 2007-2009 replied the Minister. He said his party does not exercise any impact on entities such as the unions of retired military. "They are neither influenced by New Democracy, nor their prestige and responsibility would allow something similar," said Costas Tasoulas.

At the same time, he expressed his concern about the permitted formation of trade unions in the army and urged the government to resort to any legal action in order to cancel this possibility.

The Minister of Defence asked to wait until the Supreme Court announces its decision on this issue and added that the government is preparing "to mitigate any negative part of the decision."

"We will act thoughtfully, knowing that the army is a specific space of special mission where there must be discipline and respect for hierarchy." Nevertheless, the Minister stated clearly that the law of trade unionism would not be applied in the military forces. "The Constitution does not allow it. The government will not allow it" was his clear reply.

Those specific debates made it clear that the rumours of a possible military coup, which appeared on the Internet some time ago, have worried the government. The colonels' junta reign from 1967 to 1974 is loaded with many negative emotions for many Greeks, although a significant part of them have a positive attitude to it. The military took over the power through a coup a month before the elections announced to be held on May 28. On April 21, 1967 Athens woke up to about 100 tanks in the streets. The military involved in the coup took over the military office first, and then applied the NATO plan for exceptional situations with the code name Prometheus to mobilize all military units in Attica.

The specific plan has been drawn to seize the power by the military and to neutralize the communist uprising in the event of attack by the Soviet army against Greece. Gradually, the plan was implemented throughout the country and the military remained in power almost seven years.

The populism unleashed in Greece in recent months inevitably has awakened in some nostalgic people the desire to return to the "order and security during the reign of the military." Their arguments are that road infrastructure was made during the military dictatorship, it was electrified and modernized to a great extent, but most of all - the state finances were put in order.