“Mr. Lazaridis has given his explanations, I consider them sufficient and I believe there is no issue,” emphasized New Democracy MP Dimitris Markopoulos, referring to the Makarios Lazaridis case, which has been high on the agenda in recent days. Speaking on Parapolitika 90.1 and the show “She and I” with journalists Stella Gantona and Thanasis Fouskidis, Mr. Markopoulos emphasized, among other things, the following: “Makarios Lazaridis is a politician who has a specific way of political narrative, he is combative. I believe that because some New Democracy officials are combative, it leads to some excessive aggressiveness against them. It’s no coincidence that Lazaridis has been targeted for months. The man has given his explanations since yesterday, he showed his degree, he analyzed some things around the legislation of the time, I believe he didn’t hide,” Mr. Markopoulos said initially.
Read: Markopoulos: Takes on furious duties as New Democracy parliamentary representative
Markopoulos on Lazaridis: He has given his explanations and they are sufficient
Continuing, Mr. Markopoulos emphasized that “Mr. Lazaridis has given his explanations, I consider them sufficient and I believe there is no issue,” adding that there is a “plan of political annihilation of New Democracy officials by the opposition.”
I will proceed with what my colleagues requested, I believe in their innocence
When asked to answer whether he will vote for the lifting of immunity of New Democracy MPs who are involved in the OPEKEPE case file, Mr. Markopoulos stated that “from the moment the colleagues have requested the lifting of their immunity themselves, obviously I will proceed with what the colleagues requested. I strongly believe in their innocence and for this reason, to clear their situations, I absolutely respect their request.”
I consider the separation of functions between minister and MP correct
Finally, when asked about the implementation of incompatibility between ministers and MPs – which Kyriakos Mitsotakis proposed – Mr. Markopoulos pointed out the following: “The Prime Minister correctly opened a discussion, raised a concern. Obviously all these things will be formalized in the process. My personal opinion is either priest-priest or couple-couple. That is, I consider the separation of functions between minister and MP correct. The minister must devote himself to his governmental duties and I consider the Prime Minister’s proposal very correct, however I believe that ministers should be outside parliament, in a different model. Ministers should serve terms without being elected,” Mr. Markopoulos added.
