Lawmaker Varoufakis attacked in Exarchia, has nose broken
A group of people attacked MP and former finance minister Yanis Varoufakis at a restaurant in the Athens neighborhood of Exarchia, breaking his nose.
The group spotted Varoufakis at the restaurant on Valtetsiou St., or was informed of his presence, and confronted him; one or more of the group eventually hit Varoufakis in the face.
The leftist lawmaker was taken to Evangelismos Hospital, in the city center, to be examined and eventually fitted with a cast.
“We roundly and categorically condemn the attack on MERA 25 (party) secretary Mr. Y. Varoufakis,” government spokesman Giannis Oikonomou posted on Twitter. “Thuggery has no place in our democracy and violence in any form is not tolerated,” he added. “Greek police will do whatever is necessary so that perpetrators face justice,” Oikonomou said in a follow-up tweet.
Exarchia is widely known as a stronghold of anarchists, who have expressed hostility to politicians setting foot on their “territory.” It is not clear, however, whether the people who attacked Varoufakis were anarchists.
