In a move of political defence after the furore over his appointment to the Education Ministry in 2007 without a recognised degree, Deputy Minister Makarios Lazaridis is demanding a sharp deduction of the extra money he received.
However, it attempts to shirk any personal responsibility. He claims that his appointment to the highest rank of «special adviser» was made without his intervention, attributing the error solely to the ministry's services at the time.
At the same time, Lazaridis publicly apologises for his recent, strong statements on television, denounces an attempt at «character assassination» and responds to PASOK's criticisms of his wife's appointment, stressing that everything was done with «full transparency».
In detail the statement of M. Lazaridis
«My statement on the developments concerning me
First of all, I feel the need to apologise because, in the need to defend myself, I have expressed myself in the past few days, at times, in a way that is not in keeping with my ethics, nor with the ethics of the party to which I have belonged since I was a child.
In essence, however, at a time when there is a systematic attempt to smear people with a track record and presence in public life, I must clarify the following:
Over time, Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Secretaries General have chosen, in accordance with the law, associates of their absolute confidence, who leave upon the departure of their political superior, without any other right.
Partners with a relationship of trust and efficiency. These are neither unprecedented nor unusual.
In accordance with the provisions in force, I could be recruited to the post of special assistant as a high school graduate, given that my degree was not recognised by the then IACSAS, after checking the documents requested and submitted to the relevant department.
If I had to be appointed as a special assistant rather than a special adviser, it was without any intervention or choice on my part.
The proof of the above is that I joined the Ministry of Administrative Reform in the category of the DE, because obviously the services, under the current Prime Minister, Mr.K. Mitsotakis, did their job well.
Because both then and now Mr Mitsotakis is changing the State and correcting years of pathologies. This is what we have been doing for 7 years now and we will continue to do it so that 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 to leave any shadows hanging, I myself request the full, sharp account of any amounts unduly paid to me.
As far as my wife, Athanasia Kotsavitis is concerned, I have never hidden my political and family relationship with Mrs Vasso Kollias. After my departure from the General Secretariat, she took the decision to hire me and to cooperate with the then ND-PASOK coalition government.
The truth is in front of everyone. With full transparency and without any shadow.
I have nothing to fear, but I will not allow anyone to «murder» my character and smear my family.».
❗️Δήλωσή for developments concerning me
First of all, I feel the need to apologize because, in the need to defend myself, I have expressed myself in the past few days, at times, in a way that is not in line with my ethics, nor with the ethics of the party in which I...
- Makarios Lazaridis 🇬🇷 (@mvlazaridis) April 16, 2026
