Newly appointed deputy minister for Maritime and the Agean, Giorgos Vernicos submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Antonis Samaras on Tuesday afternoon. Vernikos resignation came after main opposition party SYRIZA revealed that it is not compatible for a minister to have an off-shore company.
In a press release, main opposition party left-wing SYRIZA stressed:
Article 6 of Law 3849/2010 is clear. It strictly forbids to minister and politicians in general to take part in off-shore companies. Thus, the law foresees heavy penalties and fines in case of law breach.
SYRIZA revealed that a ministerial degree approved the settlement in Greece of an office or branch of Vernicos Offshore Group S.A. with seat in the Marsall Islands.
SYRIZA requested explanation by the government and Giorgos Vernicos underlining that “if Vernicos has any connections with this company this would be an obstacle for him to remain a government minister.”
Giorgos Vernicos is shpowner, dealing with touristic ships.
Vernicos was the choice of government partner PASOK.
State broadcaster NET TV reported that there will be no replacement for this post.
Vernicos participation in off-shore company was revealed by Zougla TV magazine.
Vernicos is the second member of Samaras’ government who leaves his post, after would-be Finance Minister Vassilis Rapanos – however Rapanos resigned due to health problems.
Sayonara….
@KTG We can’t post the national word of Greece? This is anti-hellenic!
LOL because is directed to a former public person
So, this guy was sworn in as a deputy minister, while owning an offshore company, which is clearly against the law of the country. Leaving aside whether his sponsors and Samarias knew about this or not, HE DID. So the question now is, why is somebody who knowingly broke the laws of Greece at the level that he did left get away with this? Resigning doesn’t suddenly make this less of an unlawful act, or does it. Putting the cookies back after being caught with your hand in the cookie jar doesn’t make trying to take them ok, does it?
Again, are some people more equal than other when it comes to applying the laws of the country?
he could face 2 years imprisonment and up to 500K euro fine. But as he officially declared “he didn’t know”. so the fines could go to Venizelos and Samaras #all-citizens-equal
“Sorry boss, I didn’t know I own an offshore company with my name on it, making me millions tax free. Sorry, won’t happen again. Bye”
And that is accepted and acceptable????
Even as stated below that there is a possiblilty that the civils servants didn’t know, now they do, and should act. some example this government of “national responsibility” is giving so far. I would have thought that their very first responsibility would be towards upholding the law of the land, whether we agree with it or not, that’s another argument but as long as it is law, then surely and especially those in office should be seen to honour and uphold it, and being held to it. This once again clearly shows that the law of the land only matters to some, and is imposed on only some…
Why again is it that people have certain unfavourable perceptions of Greece?
wrong approach. correct “Sorry boss, I didn’t know it is forbiden for owners of offshore companies to become ministers. Sorry, won’t happen again. Bye” –
Apart from law knowledge or not, there is a moral issue: when you as state strip low pensioners of 600 euro/month of their income due to taxes, you cannot have a minister deputy on the tax-free trip, even if it is not illegal to have off-shore in general.
If that is so, why was this post created and filled in the first place? But I won’t complain. 2 down… who will be next.
tstststsk
Appointing someone with an alleged history of health problems to the most stress-full and demanding job in Greece is at least an error in judgement. Appointing someone in government without even the slightest check on his (financial) background is a systemic failure, because it shows that even recent laws are not known by the civil servants of the ministries. Two more signs that the state continues to collapse.
And the chances of more and bigger skeletons in closets is real.
Agreed. However, you fail to compliment Samaras on his consistency. As far as I am concerned, he has never shown good judgement at any point in his political career. It would be astonishing if he should start now.
Yep. But I am an optimist. And somewhere deep inside there was this tiny shimmer of hope he would rise to the occasion. *sigh* 🙄
This is the reason why Greece needs the troika to oversee all the administration of the country. Greeks are so accustomed to negligence of the law that it isn’t even acknowledged when something wrong is being done.