Flambouraris gets away with fraud with added tax statement

Scandal engulfed Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras’ mentor prior to the general election on September 20. Not only did Alekos Flambouraris – the man who helped guide Tsipras’ rise from student politician to prime minister – maintain his majority shareholding in a technical services company against regulations banning cabinet members from owning or operating a business, but he also commissioned it to take on a controversial regional work worth 3.9-million-euro contract to upgrade a fishing port in a tender for the regional administration of southern Greece. He denied Proto Thema’s exclusive reportage prior to the elections only to admit to it a few days after his party’s win.

From his post as State Minister, Flambouraris is trying to right his wrongdoing, not by resigning as would be the most honorable thing to do after the lies and conflict of interest, but by submitting an additional declaration a la Economy Minister George Stathakis (who did just that after he failed to declare a million euros for three years).

The usually verbose George Varemenos, head of the Assets Testing Committee in Greek Parliament, is keeping silent on Flambouraris’ erroneous assets declaration that had been submitted in April 2015. A priority over the coming days is a new declaration submitted to Greek Parliament’s tax auditors over the coming weeks.

The race is on to add an authority of credibility over the declaration already submitted by Flambouraris. Efforts are being made to send him a lifesaver giving an aura of legality to his previous declaration.
On his part, Varemenos refused to respond to questions concerning Flambouraris’ obligations regarding the declaration made in April 2015. In an interview with Mega, he avoided answering questions on Flambouraris declaration and inertia concerning the SYRIZA heavyweight’s wrongdoing.