Three party leaders declare they have no car

Three party leaders announced on Tuesday they don’t have any personal vehicles in their eyebrow raising wealth declarations (‘pothen esches’) for 2024.

The declarations for 2024 were completed under an older regime, which changed last week when amendments were passed to have MPs also declare their spouses, partners and dependents’ assets.

According to this year’s declarations, presumably filed on with the old regime, the leaders of Diko, Dipa and Akel don’t have any personal vehicles for their own use.

Opposition Disy leader and house speaker Annita Demetriou reported two homes in Larnaca and a car registered in her name.

Junior governing party Diko leader Nicholas Papadopoulos reported that 11 properties belong to him but left the section with cars or any other personal modes of transport including boats completely blank.

Meanwhile, opposition Akel leader Stefanos Stefanou declared only one house and shares in the Demetra company in his name, leaving the declaration largely empty of any other information, including a vehicle.

Marios Garoyian, the leader of junior governing party Dipa, also left the vehicle section empty listing only some shares and homes in his name.

Nationalist and far-right Elam leader Christos Christou reported he had four fields and one house in his name.

He also declared possession of a car, a Mazda Saloon valued at €2,000.

Junior government supporting party Edek leader Marinos Sizopoulos listed a Maserati GT, valued between €35,000-€40,000.

Also, he only listed an apartment in Athens under his name.

Under the old regime, which was considered largely laughable, MPs only listed items that were theirs, leaving a giant loophole to have property, cars, etc listed in names of spouses or other relatives that the MPs were still using.

With the new amendments passed last week, the wealth declaration must include the person’s assets and liabilities, as well as an income and expenses statement for the time period in question. They must also file the same data for their spouse as well as for any dependents. If unmarried, they must report the wealth of any live-in partner.

Once checked by the Tax Commissioner’s office, the filings will be posted on a dedicated website. They will stay there for as long as the person holds office plus 12 months.

The amended legislation provides for severe penalties if a person intentionally provides false or misleading information on wealth declaration checks. They will be liable for a fine of up to €50,000 (up from the current €3,000) and/or a prison sentence of up to three years.

Strict confidentiality applies for any formal complaints that allege financial shenanigans on the part of the state officials subject to control. If anyone makes public such a complaint, they will be liable to a €10,000 fine and/or a jail sentence of one year.

The list of appointed officials subject to control has been expanded to include commissioners appointed by the president, associates/aides to the president or government ministers, and the Contractors Council, among others.