MEP Chatzimarkakis to end political career in Germany due to treatment of Greece, Cyprus
A German MEP of Greek descent, Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, said on Wednesday that he would not continue his political career in Germany because of his frustration at the way his party, the Free Democrats, and the government of Chancellor Angela Merkel had treated Greece and Cyprus over their bailouts.
“My soul, my spirit does not permit me to continue, so I have decided not to stand again as a candidate in Germany,” the 46-year-old told the Athens-Macedonia News Agency, accusing German politicians of using stereotypes to tarnish the image of Cypriots and Greeks.
“It is very difficult to get messages across that are not governed by these stereotypes, which would have the Greeks being lazy and Cypriots being gangsters who have to be punished.”
Chatzimarkakis also accused the eurozone of maintaining a hypocritical stance on the issue of Cyprus’s hydrocarbon reserves by refusing to take them into account in bailout negotiations but then referring to them 12 times in the memorandum of understanding between Nicosia and the troika.
