Macarios Lazaridis has resigned as deputy minister of rural development after the furore over his studies.
Macarios Lazaridis’ statement:
Throughout my personal life I have walked with integrity and lived my family with dignity, which I will not let anyone tarnish.
With the same values I have stood in politics, always with my head held high. I have fought, in and out of parliament, with New Democracy, with a firm commitment to the principles and values I serve.
The citizens of Kavala have honoured me with their trust and elected me twice as a member of parliament in my hometown, which is a great honour for me, but also a responsibility
I am proud of the battles I have fought alongside Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis both during the difficult years of the opposition and during the country’s governance.
I served with consistency and a sense of duty, contributing, to the extent of my strength, to the effort for a strong and modern Greece.
From the very first moment of my public presence, I chose transparency. I made my “behind the scenes” public during the 2019 pre-election campaign, without being obliged to do so, proving in practice that I was never afraid of scrutiny, but on the contrary, I sought it.
All this time I have fended off with arguments and political dignity the attacks of a toxic opposition, which, stumbling, is looking for a way to save itself electorally, investing in smear and slander on an issue that even happened almost 20 years ago.
However, in view of the need to safeguard the work of the Government and the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, I submit my resignation from the position of Deputy Minister.
This decision does not in the least negate my faith in the principles I have served and will continue to serve.
I sincerely thank the Prime Minister for his confidence and all those who have stood by my side throughout this journey.”
