Pangalos denies ‘lazy’ comment in Turkey
Deputy Prime Minister Theodoros Pangalos has denied giving an interview to Hurriyet newspaper in Turkey after the publication?s website quoted him as saying that Greeks are now paying the price for being lazy while the Turks worked hard and their economy benefited.
The report prompted the ire of New Democracy, in particular over comments about the purchase of Finansbank in Turkey the National Bank of Greece. Pangalos is alleged to have criticized ?nationalists? who opposed the deal even though PASOK, then in opposition, had slammed the New Democracy government at the time.
ND spokesman Yiannis Michelakis labeled Panagalos as being ?out of control.?
However, the deputy prime minister?s office denied in statement that he had spoken to any journalists during a visit to Istanbul to meet Ecumenical Patriarch Vartholomaios.
?He never made comments or gave an interview with the content that is referred to in New Democracy?s statement or anywhere else,? said Pangalos?s office.
