Photo: tovima.gr
The "Lagarde list" published 10 days ago is still provoking reactions in Greek society. Is it hiding hypocrites or honest citizens, liars and outright tax evaders? When the list appeared, all rushed to seek the names of celebrities. It has turned out, however, that many of the names belong to people who had never imagined that the media would "circulate" their names, because they have entrusted their money to Swiss banks. They certainly never suspected that they would see their names in the papers one day. Those known to the public as well as the "big fish" reacted immediately and threatened to initiate lawsuits and claims.
The most impressive thing on the list is the account holders’ occupations. Incredible as it may sound, the majority of women have said that they are housewives. They are 187 in number, followed by pensioners - 129, traders - 103, businessmen - 95, mechanical engineers - 87, company managers - 81, physicians - 49, industrialists - 44, lawyers - 43 and the paradoxes begin.
How otherwise could one define the fact that a list, which is full of housewives, mentions the names of only 24 shipowners and 9 hoteliers. Some time ago, it was even announced that one of the listed housewives had had bank deposits amounting to 4 million euro.
Equally strange is the fact that the list contains the names of two employees in tax offices, three public workers, two of whom work in the finance ministry, five soldiers, 68 students and only nine people who deal with insurance, repairs and brokerage of vessels.
Similarly, the list contains the names of eight travel agents, four insurers, four reporters and four publishers. A total of 2,059 holders of 2,846 accounts with total deposits of 4.5 billion euro. Here is how some of them reacted, according to an article in To Vima newspaper.
The first name that immediately attracts the attention is that of Nikos Papandreou, who is mentioned twice. It is only natural for someone to think that this is the brother of former Prime Minister George Papandreou. He has immediately sent a written message that reads as follows, "Obviously, there is another Papandreou on the Earth. You should find him to be pleased with the coincidence of names." However, he turned to the financial control offices and requested a document certifying that the Nikos Papandreou on the list was not him. Then, he did his own investigation and discovered who the holder of the account was, but would not say anything about him. According to sources, he is a very old man, a former manager of a company.
Former minister of New Democracy, George Voulgarakis, and his wife, Ekaterini Peleki, whose names the parliamentary committee has sent for investigation, refuse to explain why their names are on the list. The former minister just wrote on Twitter, "The circles of liars, slanderers and misinformers are trying to hurt me again by throwing mud at the fan."
The list contains the name of "Mrs. Stavroula Kourakou, a business entrepreneur." The name is the same as that of the wife of the former military and finance minister of PASOK,Yiannos Papantoniou, who hastened to deny that it was her. According to the former minister, the list may have been counterfeited, since the secret services have intervened in this case.
Businessman Ioannis Meimaroglou represents the Renovation Left. He claims he is running a business in Switzerland and does not remember having a particular bank account, but does not exclude the possibility of having had one some years ago.
The list contains the names of the brothers Haralambos and Yiannis Floridis - distant relatives of former PASOK minister George Floridis. They have had a company selling meat since 1980, which was one of the strongest companies in Greece in 2010 and among the 100 largest food companies in the world. One of the brothers, Yiannis Floridis, refuses to comment on the presence of his name on the list, "I have nothing to say. I did not commit any offence. All the money was declared."
Cardiologist Ioannis Lekakis says that he was surprised when he saw his name on the list, as he had no accounts in a foreign bank. Teacher Ioannis Karaitianos says that he had worked abroad, but denied the amount of his deposits, "The money is much less and it was declared". Surgeon Sotiris Stiloinis – a long-time director of the central Athens "Evangelismos" hospital states, "I have no bank account in a specific bank. Whoever finds one let him take the money." He says that he sold in 1985 some farm lands which he had inherited from his father and the money from the sale had been duly taxed. A few years ago, he had returned the money to Greece.
Actress Nonika Galinea would not comment. Her daughter Amalia Moutousi whose name is also on the list did not say anything about it.
Jeweller Antonis Vourakis says, "I have nothing to with this. It is probably a relative of mine with whom I have not been in touch for 16 years now. I have no accounts abroad. I'm not sure that the list is true. On the other hand, it contains the names of people who do not need to tell us that they have money abroad like shipowners, for example."
The daughter of jeweller Ilias Lalaounis and the head of the eponymous museum, Ioanna Lalaouni, says her father is running his business in many countries and especially in Switzerland and France as well as in New York. He is dealing with import and export and she claims that he pays all the taxes. "My father paid 50% of taxes of all jewellers. He has always been paying and is paying his taxes and he is not like some others who do not issue receipts."