Stathakis and Flambouraris under auditors spotlight in “rain” of investigations

The Assets Testing Committee of Greek Parliament has decided to conduct further investigation into the wealth assets declarations of two Radical Left Coalition (SYRIZA) ministers – Economy Minister George Stathakis and State Minister Alekos Flambouraris. In an unprecedented move, the committee called for the opening of Stathakis’ accounts – the first time an active minister has been requested to do this.

The new development comes at a time of economic reform and creates political upheavel for Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras who is calling for party consensus ahead of tough measures.

George Varemenos, head of the Assets Testing Committee in Greek Parliament, said that there were more than the million euros initially missing from Stathakis “assets” for 2011. There were also differences in other accounts as well as undeclared real estate.

For the moment, a government source stressed that there is no reason to expel Stathakis. On his part, the minister tried to quell the situation by stating that the accounts being investigated belonged to his mother who had named both her sons as beneficiaries and they were declared in 2013 before his name was withdrawn in 2014. “Regarding the real estate, there has not been the slightest failure in respect to my declarations. Some agricultural land belonging to my wife where under litigation, however my wife’s share in this was no more than 3% and had been declared as normal in 2013 and 2014,” he said. He did not hide his annoyance at the handling of the matter by the committee.

Auditors will also investigate Alekos Flambouraris accounts and will investigate initial statements that concern the years 2013-2014 to ensure if there are legal problems and a conflict of interest concerning the shares that he held in his construction company.

All up, auditors have referred a number of situations to Justice:

– 11 debtors (former members, responsible economic parties, etc.) for outstanding tax;

– 8 liable members (not active politicians) because they did not submit wealth declarations.

Varemenos also found that there is an outstanding decisions concerning 1,850,000 euros and 150,000 euros that former socialist PASOK minister Giannis Anthopoulos and conservative ND minister Aristidis Tsiplakos are invited to return to the state respectively. Furthermore, the assets declarations of former SYRIZA vice president Alexis Mitropoulos and former ND finance ministers Gikas Hardouvelis and Stavros Papastavrou (adviser of former PM Antonis Samaras) will be investigated over the coming week.