Aristos Doxiadis, Deputy Minister for Research and Innovation at the Ministry of Development, has resigned barely 24 hours after joining the government.
In a statement, Doxiadis claims that he is entirely innocent of charges leveled against him – that he represented a now defunct company twice convicted of unfair competitive practices which also owes significant sums to suppliers and to the state, in the form of unpaid taxes – and that he resigned in order to spare the government from a “witch hunt.”
Doxiadis, an economist and venture capitalist, had a prominent presence as a “public intellectual” not shying away from controversy. Recently, he had raised the ire of many for criticizing the protesters against the Tempe rail disaster as failing to articulate any proposals to improve Greek railways.
Doxiadis’ full statement he posted on social media Sunday:
“I decided to resign.
The unethical war the opposition unleashed on me, with baseless attacks from the moment I was sworn in, abruptly landed me into the harsh political reality.
To those who accused me about the case of the “Apollon” firm, I reply that I was tried and acquitted by a criminal court in 2013, which absolved me of all accusations connected to what the opposition now charges me for. I add that, since the trial was over, I was not charged by any authority, under any successive government. So, much ado about nothing.
Because I do not waste my life in such disputes, I decided to resign as Deputy Minister for Research and Innovation, both for reasons of personal tranquility and to protect the government and the post from a witch hunt.
I warmly thank the Prime Minister for his offer of this portfolio, so important for the future. I am sorry that political toxicity prevents active citizens from contributing to the collective efforts toward progress.”
It was the first government post for Doxiadis, 73.
