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List of politicians being investigated for corruption made public
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Prime Minister Antonis Samaras is expected to make an official statement on a brewing political scandal after a list containing the names of more than 30 politicians that were investigated for corruption by the Financial Crimes Squad (SDOE) was leaked. The list, which includes the name of 11 former ministers, 10 former deputy ministers and 12 former or current MPs, has been passed to prosecutors, who are preparing to investigate allegations ranging from tax evasion to gaining wealth from illegal activities. The allegations against each of the politicians on the list have not been made public. The list, which has been published on the Internet, contains the names of: Nikolas Tagaras – New Democracy MP for Corinthia Panos Kammenos – Leader of Independent Greeks Elpida Tsouri – former PASOK MP and deputy minister Yiannis Kourakis – former PASOK MP and deputy minister, Mayor of Iraklio Yiannis Anthopoulos – former deputy minister, PASOK Tasos Mantelis – former minister, PASOK Yiannos Papantoniou – former minister, PASOK Yiannis Sbokos – former MP, PASOK Nikitas Kaklamanis – New Democracy MP, former Athens Mayor Aris Spilitiopoulos – New Democracy MP, former minister Apostolos Fotiadis – former deputy minister, PASOK Giorgos Voulgarakis – former minister, New Democracy Fevronia Patrianakou, former New Democracy MP Nikos Konstantopoulos –former leader of Synaspismos Eliza Vozemberg – New Democracy MP Panayiotis Fasoulas – former PASOK MP, ex-Mayor of Piraeus Akis Tsochatzopoulos – former minister, PASOK Fotis Arvanitis – former PASOK MP Dimitris Apostolakis – former deputy minister, PASOK Evangelos Meimarakis – parliamentary speaker, former minister Michalis Liapis – former minister, New Democracy Christos Verelis – former minister, PASOK Kostas Liaskas – former minister, PASOK Giorgos Orfanos – former minister, New Democracy Spilios Spiliotopoulos – former minister, New Democracy Petros Mantouvalos – former New Democracy MP Athanasios Nakos – New Democracy MP Alexandros Voulgaris – former New Democracy MP Marina Hrysoveloni – Independent Greeks MP Leonidas Tzanis – former deputy minister, PASOK Antonis Bezas – former deputy minister, New Democracy Michalis Halkidis – former New Democracy MP Michalis Karchimakis – former PASOK MP The name of parliamentary speaker Evangelos Meimarakis had leaked last week in a press report, prompting an angry reaction from the conservative politician. In an attempt to prove that allegations of money laundering are unfounded, Meimarakis published his source of wealth (pothen esches) declarations dating back to 1989, when he was first elected to Parliament. His last declaration, in 2010, shows savings of 290,000 euros. The claims against Meimarakis are being investigated by the Supreme Court. Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos and former Education Minister Aris Spiliotopoulos, whose names appear on the list of supposed suspects, both issued statements saying they have nothing to hide. |