Haris Theocharis

Former Finance Ministry public revenues chief Haris Theocharis, an independent lawmaker, has joined the ranks of New Democracy's parliamentary group, the conservative party announced on Tuesday.

Migrant arrivals on Greece's Aegean islands are up by 50 percent compared to last year, Migration Minister Dimitris Vitsas said in Parliament Friday describing conditions on Lesvos and Samos islands as "critical."

Former Finance Ministry chief of public revenues Haris Theocharis was selected on Tuesday to represent Parliament's seven independent MPs.

The Conference of Presidents named Theocharis representative of the independent bloc, with Giorgos Carras named as his alternate.

Former general secretary for public revenues Haris Theocharis is running with To Potami in the January 25 election, it emerged on Wednesday. He is expected to be candidate in the Athens B electoral district in Attica.

Theocharis resigned from his position last year, citing personal reasons.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has postponed the release of Greece's fifth review report for next week.

Its publication was originally planned for Thursday at 7 p.m. while IMF envoy Poul Thomsen was expected to brief journalists an hour earlier.

Sources in the Finance Ministry told To Vima the delay was due to “procedural reasons.”

Finance Minister Yannis Stournaras has accepted the resignation of the country's general secretary for public revenues Haris Theocharis.

In a statement, the ministry said Theocharis had resigned for “personal reasons.”