One of the 36 Greek luminaries being investigated on the basis of Lagarde’s List of 2000 Greek tax evaders, was found dead on Thursday. Leonidas Tzanis (left) a former PASOK deputy interior minister in the Costas Simitis’ government, took his own life at his home in Volos. He was already being investigated by Greece’s SDOE until for financial irregularities, and suspicious acquisition of wealth.
First elected in 1993, Tzanis served as an MP until 2007, and was deputy Minister of the Interior from February 1999 to October 2001. He was 57 years old. The prominent PASOK MP served as chairman of the parliamentary committee assigned to investigate the case of the Floisvos Casino. A celebrated scandal from 1995, the Floisvos affair was dominated by charges of impropriety against Tourism Minister Dionysios Livanos. The tender, during which Livanos had been accused of favouring one bidder, was subsequently cancelled.
The Government spokesman denying impropriety in the case was…. (surprise... surprise...) Evangelos Venizelos.
The Slog raised several questions about the mystery of Lagarde’s List earlier this past week. The list was handed to Antonis Samaras by Evangelos Venizelos on Tuesday, following which John Sbokos – ex Secretary to the Directorate of Armament – was immediately arrested by the SDOE.
As an arms minister, Sbokos played a central role in the corrupt purchase of German submarines. Lagarde’s List has international ramifications because it is thought that prominent German politicians will be implicated by the testimony of those now being brought to justice.The Slog
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