Politicians reveal their assets
Greece’s leading politicians appear to be financially comfortable, with substantial investments in property, according to annual ‘origin of wealth’ statements that were published yesterday. Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis declared an annual income of 121,000 euros, 94,600 of which came from his salary as Greek premier. The source of the remainder of his income was not clear. The documents, which cover 2006 and have been audited by accountants, also show that Karamanlis has 18 properties in his name. These include homes in Athens and Thessaloniki and on the islands of Kythnos and Myconos. Karamanlis additionally earned some 150,000 euros from selling shares in several financial institutions. The premier also has 140,000 euros and $153,411 deposited in the bank. PASOK leader George Papandreou declares an annual income of 114,630 euros. He jointly owns, with his wife, the 365 square meter home in the northern Athens suburb of Nea Erythraia where the couple live. Papandreou has about 25,000 euros in the bank and his wife holds an Alpha Bank bond worth 228,000 euros. Aleka Papariga, the Communist Party leader, has few assets in comparison with the other party leaders. She declared an income of 83,266 euros and owns a 90 square meter apartment in Athens jointly with her daughter. The president of the Coalition of the Radical Left’s (SYRIZA) parliamentary group, Alekos Alavanos, has an income of 125,262 euros. Of this, he gave 25,000 euros to SYRIZA and made a 5,000-euro donation to a non-governmental organization. Alavanos owns six properties, three plots of land and has a share in a hotel on the island of Tinos. The leader of the right-wing Popular Orthodox Rally (LAOS) Giorgos Karatzaferis trumps this by some distance, as he owns 36 properties in various parts of the country. He has a declared income of 74,348 euros.
