Search for deputy minister that siphoned money abroad

Northern Greek daily Thessaloniki reported that such a transaction took place, but did not reveal the name of the minister.

Government deputies state that this is not the first time that the media has made such claims and called for a name of the deputy in question to be released otherwise the report would be viewed as “muckraking”.

The newspaper on Tuesday described the Alternate minister in question, a person close to Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, without actually naming him. Thessaloniki daily insists that there is proof of the transaction but does not disclose the name of the politician in question due to the nature of the data, the acquisition of which is already a legal issue. The report states that the minister in question was approached by the newspaper and denied having taken money out of Greece since assuming office.

Opposition PASOK MP Vasilis Kegeroglou took the issue to Parliament in a statement directed to Alternate Finance Minister Nadia Valavani stating that a SYRIZA minister was following along the same lines as former conservative New Democracy Finance Minister Gikas Hardouvelis who had also transfered large sums of money out of Greece during his term.

Government Spokesman Gavriil Sakellarides did not comment on the issue. The government, however, did respond to the newspaper, stating that it wants the name of the minister.