Themis Himaras surrendered his seat after the revelations

After six days from the revelation of the scandal involving Themis Himaras who was illegally receiving public money, the ND MP was forced to resign from office to rescue Kyriakos Mitsotakis from the unfortunate case «Patsis number 2» - After the new revelations, the ND MP says that on Monday he transferred his company to his employees - He says he left the 2nd company before receiving 900.000 euros.

Out of Parliament is now the MP of Fthiotida of the New Democracy, Themis Himaras as he resigned his parliamentary office after the revelations against him.

«Recognizing that an unintentional omission of mine became the reason for me to put the party I serve and the people who have honored me with their trust and friendship in a difficult position, I fully assume my responsibility and declare my resignation from the parliamentary office, surrendering the seat to New Democracy, as I owe», he says in his letter.

The deal with Maximou, which called for the seat to be handed over, is rumoured to include an agreement for Mr Chimaras to remain on the party's ballot papers. It is noted that the first runner-up is Ms. Eleni Makri, who served as a member of parliament for Fthiotida with the ND in 2012 - 2015.

The letter of Themis Himaras to Kostas Tasoulas:

In the 2019 elections, the citizens of Fthiotida did me the honour of electing me as a Member of Parliament, to work for my country, to serve my country and to strengthen the effort of New Democracy, the party I have served since I was a child, to create a strong Greece.

The incompatibility that has emerged in recent days, in relation to my business activity and despite the fact that the figures I have provided do not show an increase in sales during my parliamentary term, raises questions.

Recognizing that an unintentional omission of mine became the cause of embarrassing the party I serve and the people who have honored me with their trust and friendship, I fully assume my responsibility and declare my resignation from the parliamentary office, surrendering the seat to New Democracy, as I owe.

I would never allow such an issue that concerns me to be exploited by our political opponents in order to harm the principles, values and ideals that the Government of the New Democracy and our Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, faithfully serve.

I thank my compatriots for their support and trust and I apologise to those I have unintentionally upset.

I declare that I remain at the forefront of the battle with New Democracy, alongside our Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, for the Greece we deserve, for a strong Fthiotida.

The background of the case

Both the newspaper Document, as well as the Paul Polakis revealed that Themis Himaras, since 2019 when he was elected to the Parliament with New Democracy, has made over 270 contracts with municipalities of his constituency and other public bodies. Specifically, he appears to be the owner of a company that illegally does business with public bodies even though there is an incompatibility.

The contracts with public bodies amount to more than EUR 400.000 and concern, inter alia, the supply of photocopying material, stationery, calendars and bindings.

The former blue MP was quick to respond to the article, only instead of denying it, he fully confirmed the newspaper's report. This is because, as he says, «in the last four years, from 2019 to date, the turnover of my business, amounts to 1,197,577.84 euros», specifying, in fact, that «from this amount, sales to local authorities and education structures, through legal procedures, amount to 268,794.76 euros».

The Member of the Southwest then announced that on Monday 2/1 he left his company, the same day that it was revealed that the Southwest knew from 2020 about the direct assignments while there was an incompatibility.

Specifically, he said that on Monday he transferred the company Themis Himaras & Co. to his partners, leaving it. He also claims that the increase in the company's share capital in 2020 by 49,500 euros was covered by «declared income».

Regarding Smarts IKE, which received 900,000 under ND, Themis Himaras claims that he left before becoming a member of parliament. «My departure, for a price of €65,847, has been included in the 2020 tax return.

On the above revelations and statements by the Member of Parliament the Mansion House seemed to be waiting and watching «where the ball will land». As the days went by and Themis Himaras was kept out of the reach of Maximos, blue MPs spoke privately about the unacceptable embarrassment of the government and the double standards of the party's MPs.

His stay in the ranks of the New Democracy and the party's Central Committee caused venomous comments even from highly pro-government media and journalists. It is characteristic that in SKAI, Aris Portosalte and Dimitris Economou, launched a fierce attack on the government for the case of Themis Himaras, saying that the embarrassment characterizes the government and the party's CO.

«He was pinching public money with his little company. He's going to come out now, Patsi number two. There's an awkwardness and they're waiting for the congressman to speak. And the congressman says he didn't know. Didn't know what? That when you become a congressman you don't get money from the government? The basic.», Aris Portosalte said among other things, adding that he was caught with the goat on his back and the government should end the matter.

In this climate the Maximum took its final decisions.

«Will Mitsotakis dismiss Himaras or does he approve of the looting?»

A few hours before the effective dismissal of Mr. Himaras from the parliamentary office, SYRIZA - PS wrote:

«We are still waiting for a clear answer from Mr Mitsotakis: will he expel his MP Mr Himaras or does he approve of the looting?» the laconic statement of the press office of SYRIZA-PS on the case of Themis Himaras, who did business worth more than 400,000 euros with the state while he is a deputy.