Ministers feel the heat

Voulgarakis, Roussopoulos reject accusations they behaved unethically

Two government ministers who have come under attack over claims that they have behaved unethically hit back yesterday as New Democracy seeks to rid itself of the bad publicity that has been dogging it for the past few days.

Merchant Marine Minister Giorgos Voulgarakis appeared on a series of TV and radio shows yesterday to answer allegations that he had behaved unethically by being involved in at least two real estate firms during the past four years during which he has been minister.

“Whatever is legal is ethical as well,” Voulgarakis said during his interview on Skai TV. He pointed out that he had not broken any parliamentary rules by having a stake in the companies, which he set up with his wife.

The minister insisted that the firms were set up to manage property that had been handed over to Voulgarakis and his wife from their parents and would later be transferred to their four children. “Has owning property become illegal in Greece?” he asked.

He admitted to having a good standard of living thanks to his family’s wealth and claimed he was being made a scapegoat because of this.

Voulgarakis faced further criticism yesterday after it emerged that the man he appointed as a manager of one of his firms had also been appointed head of the Seamen’s Pension Fund (NAT) by the minister in February.

The government backed Voulgarakis, pointing to the public statements that he has made and the source of wealth declarations that he has submitted to tax authorities.

Alternate government spokesman Evangelos Antonaros was not willing to comment on the attack launched by conservative MP Petros Tatoulis against several high-ranking party officials, and in particular State Minister, and government spokesman, Theodoros Roussopoulos.

Several ND deputies suggested that Tatoulis should resign and questioned his motives for his outspokenness. The MP accused Roussopoulos of being unethical because his position was untenable as long as his wife, Maro Zacharea, continued in her role as a TV and radio presenter and free newspaper publisher.

The main opposition PASOK party latched on to the criticism, prompting a response from Roussopoulos. “The supposedly progressive PASOK believe that women should be in the shadow of their husbands, without working, without taking initiatives, without freedom of action, in other words with no personality,” he said.