SYRIZA suggests calling Lagarde as witness in list probe
A parliamentary committee tasked with investigating former Finance Minister Giorgos Papaconstantinou over claims that he removed the names of three relatives from the Lagarde list of Greeks of Greek depositors should seek the testimony of France’s ex-Finance Minister Christine Lagarde, who now leads the International Monetary Fund, “if it is deemed necessary,” according to leftist main opposition SYRIZA.
SYRIZA also wants Prime Minister Antonis Samaras to address the panel as a witness while conservative New Democracy has called for Socialist leader Evangelos Venizelos, who succeeded Papaconstantinou as finance minister, to testify. Testimony from Lagarde and Samaras could be submitted in writing, SYRIZA said.
Junior coalition partner Democratic Left called for two former premiers, George Papandreou and Lucas Papademos, to be called.
The committee is also expected to summon members of state agencies, journalists and the relatives and former aides of Papaconstantinou. The first witnesses, to be summoned next Tuesday, are the head of the police’s electronic crimes squad, Manolis Sfakianakis, the head of Greece’s National Intelligence Service (EYP), Constantinos Bikas, and former Greek Ambassador in Paris Constantinos Halastanis. Opposition MPs also reportedly want to summon Chris Pigalle, the IMF’s envoy to Greece at the time that the Lagarde list was given to Greek authorities.
