Gov’t on investigation committees; transparency in public life

“We want and seek transparency in every aspect of public life and we prove it every day,” government spokesman Giorgos Petalotis stressed on Monday, pointing out that “the government’s effort to shed light on cases that have tormented and enraged the people is reflected in the parliamentary investigation committees set up.”

He underlined that the “government will do everything and make specific steps to reverse the damage caused by the Siemens case as well,” adding that the government’s will is to have the damage caused to the Greek state reversed and this will be apparent soon through specific actions.

He reminded that since Feb. 2008, when the first proposal for an investigation committee on Siemens was made by PASOK, the present premier George Papandreou had told the then ruling New Democracy (ND) that it should take legal action against the parent company and its branch in Greece claiming compensation and, at the same time, instigate legal proceedings for the arrest of the perpetrators.

Petalotis also stated the government is shielding the political system so that “we will not be faced with similar situations ever again in the future”.

“The allegations that the trail of political money to the political parties’ funds has not been investigated, hopefully, will be answered by the investigation committee,” he said, reminding that a specific parliamentary committee is assigned with the inspection of political party finances.

Petalotis also stated that a request for a parliamentary investigation committee on the economy has already been made.