New Greek minister resigns after just one day over homophobic tweets
Greece’s deputy transport minister has resigned less than a day after he was appointed, over a string of homophobic and anti-Semitic tweets.
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras has been forming a new coalition government this week after securing the second election victory for his left-wing Syriza party.
However Tsipras formed a coalition with the right-wing, anti-LGBT Independent Greek Party to secure power, leading to concerns about the new government.
Things grew worse this week when Tsipras appointed Independent Greek MP Dimitris Kammenos as deputy transport minister – despite his record of making homophobic and anti-Semitic comments.
Comments on the official Twitter and Facebook page of the new minister – which have since been deleted – attacked Athens Pride parade, branding it “pathetic”.
In other posts he appeared to back conspiracy theories that Jewish people were to blame for 9/11, saying: “From the 2,500 Jews working at the Twin Towers nobody went to work that day.”
Kammenos had initially denied making the comments, claiming he “condemns” homophobia and anti-Semitism and that the messages had been posted by someone else.
However, he has since decided to step down citing the “national interest”, saying that he would stand aside to allow the “proper functioning of government”.
Kammenos continues to insist: “I categorically condemn racism, homophobia and anti-Semitism.”
