Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis has responded to claims about his property holdings in a social media post, prompted by a recent comment from SYRIZA-PS MP Elena Akrita. Hatzidakis says the properties attributed to him are mostly plots of farmland he inherited from his father in Crete, and warns that he will take legal action over similar claims from now on.
“Following the mythology that has grown around my assets, Ms Akrita has joined in today. I would like to think she was not fully informed, as I have spoken publicly about the issue before,” he said.
As he explains, the “26 or 40”, as others put it, “properties or houses” he is said to own are in fact a number of fields in the semi-mountainous parts of Crete, which he inherited from his father. He notes that in most cases the plots are next to one another, but are recorded under different place names.
He also points out that his asset declaration shows how they were acquired, adding that three other properties, two in Crete and one in Athens, also come from a family inheritance.
“I have acquired only one office, and that was with a loan which I am still repaying,” he stressed.
The deputy prime minister said all his assets are included in his “source of wealth” declaration, which, he noted, is approved each year by the competent parliamentary committee, which also includes members of the opposition.
He added that the sums he holds in deposits and investments have fallen significantly compared with 2019.
Concluding his post, Hatzidakis warned that he would take legal action over similar claims in future.
“I have nothing to hide! I have been very patient, but from now on my response will be lawsuits and criminal complaints!” he concluded.
SOURCE: AMNA