Greek PM turned down state salary, says official
Prime Minister Lucas Papademos waived his salary as interim leader when he assumed his post in November and has not received any payment for serving as Greece?s premier, a government official said on Thursday.
Confirming reports that Papademos told a group of German journalists he had turned down a state salary, the official said that this had been the former technocrat?s intention from the outset. ?He did not want to make an issue of it,? the official said.
Other aides in the premier?s office said they had not been aware that Papademos had instructed authorities not to issue the monthly salary related to his new role.
Normally the prime minister?s salary would burden the state budget by 7,500 euros per month.
Last month President Karolos Papoulias, whose role is largely ceremonial, waived his annual salary of around 300,000 euros, to express solidarity with Greeks who have seen their salaries and pensions cuts.
