Makarios Lazaridis has resigned from his position as Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food following the controversy surrounding his degree and his 2007 appointment as a scientific adviser at the Education Ministry.
The backlash stemmed from the fact that the newly appointed deputy minister, a graduate of a private college, had taken up duties as a ministerial special scientific adviser in 2007, even though Law 2190/1994 set minimum qualifications including a university degree, a doctoral diploma, or a postgraduate title.
St. Kasselakis also accused New Democracy MP D. Markopoulos of falsely claiming to hold a university degree, with the latter dismissing the allegations as “baseless rumours.”
The development came after mounting pressure directed both at Lazaridis himself and at the Prime Minister. Earlier today, Dora Bakoyannis stressed the need for institutional responsibility and said he “should facilitate the government and his party” by resigning.
“However, bearing in mind the need to safeguard without distraction the work of the Government and the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, I hereby submit my resignation from the position of Deputy Minister. This decision in no way diminishes my faith in the principles I have served and will continue to serve,” Lazaridis said in his resignation statement.
Source: News247
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