Deputy Minister of Rural Development Makarios Lazaridis has issued a new statement regarding the controversy surrounding his degree and 2007 appointment. Specifically, he demands “the full repayment with interest of any amounts wrongfully paid to me,” noting that if his appointment should have been as a special associate rather than special advisor, this occurred “without any intervention or choice on my part.”
“First, I feel the need to apologize because, in my need to defend myself, I expressed myself in recent days, at times, in a way that does not align with either my character or the character of the party to which I have belonged since childhood.
On substance, however, in a period where systematic defamation of people with careers and presence in public life is being attempted, I must clarify the following:
Throughout time, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and General Secretaries choose, according to law, associates of their absolute trust, who also leave with the departure of their political superior, without any other rights.
Associates with relationships of trust and effectiveness. These are neither unprecedented nor reprehensible.
According to current provisions, I could be hired in the position of special associate as a high school graduate, given that my degree was not recognized by the then DIKATSA, after checking the documents requested from me which I submitted to the competent service.
If I should have been appointed as a special associate and not as a special advisor, this happened without any intervention or choice on my part.
The proof of the above is that at the Ministry of Administrative Reform I was classified in category DE, because obviously the services, with current Prime Minister Mr. K. Mitsotakis as Minister, did their job correctly.
Because both then and now Mr. Mitsotakis is changing the State and correcting pathologies of years. This is what we have been doing for 7 years now and we will continue to do it so our children can live in a better country.
And I am proud to be a member of this Government and this Parliamentary Group.
However, because I do not wish shadows to linger, I myself demand the full repayment with interest of any amounts wrongfully paid to me.
Regarding my wife, Athanasia Kotsauti, I never hid my political and family relationship with Mrs. Vaso Kollia. After my departure from the General Secretariat, she made the decision for her hiring and collaboration with the then coalition government of New Democracy – PASOK.
The truth is in front of everyone. With complete transparency and without any shadow.
I have nothing to fear, but I will not allow anyone to ‘assassinate’ my character and taint my family.”
