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New Greek minister Kammenos quits in tweets row | |
(about 5 hours later) | |
A junior minister in the new Greek government has resigned over anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks less than 24 hours after being appointed. | A junior minister in the new Greek government has resigned over anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks less than 24 hours after being appointed. |
Dimitris Kammenos was asked to stand down as outrage mounted over comments he apparently posted on social media. | Dimitris Kammenos was asked to stand down as outrage mounted over comments he apparently posted on social media. |
One post earlier this year compared the EU to the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. | One post earlier this year compared the EU to the Nazi death camp at Auschwitz. |
Mr Kammenos, of the right-wing Independent Greeks party, said someone else had been managing his accounts and called on police to investigate. | Mr Kammenos, of the right-wing Independent Greeks party, said someone else had been managing his accounts and called on police to investigate. |
Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos said the deputy minister for infrastructure and transport would resign until the truth was established. | Independent Greeks leader Panos Kammenos said the deputy minister for infrastructure and transport would resign until the truth was established. |
'Economic holocaust' | 'Economic holocaust' |
Hours earlier, Dimitris Kammenos, who is not related to his party's leader, had been sworn into the cabinet of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. | Hours earlier, Dimitris Kammenos, who is not related to his party's leader, had been sworn into the cabinet of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras. |
Mr Tsipras's left-wing Syriza party won 35.5% of the vote in general elections on Sunday but needed the support of Independent Greeks as junior coalition partner to form a majority. | Mr Tsipras's left-wing Syriza party won 35.5% of the vote in general elections on Sunday but needed the support of Independent Greeks as junior coalition partner to form a majority. |
Syriza MPs condemned the appointment. Writing on Facebook (in Greek) one Syriza MP, Vasiliki Katrivanou, expressed "disappointment and indignation" at the selection and called for Mr Tsipras to act. | Syriza MPs condemned the appointment. Writing on Facebook (in Greek) one Syriza MP, Vasiliki Katrivanou, expressed "disappointment and indignation" at the selection and called for Mr Tsipras to act. |
Mr Kammenos had mocked pro-EU demonstrators in June by posting a doctored picture of the gate to Auschwitz on his Facebook page, replacing the words "Arbeit Macht Frei" (Work Sets You Free) over the gate with "We Stay in Europe". | Mr Kammenos had mocked pro-EU demonstrators in June by posting a doctored picture of the gate to Auschwitz on his Facebook page, replacing the words "Arbeit Macht Frei" (Work Sets You Free) over the gate with "We Stay in Europe". |
The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece launched an immediate protest. | The Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece launched an immediate protest. |
Mr Kammenos tweeted by way of apology: "The comparison may have been unfortunate but there is an economic holocaust under way in my country." | Mr Kammenos tweeted by way of apology: "The comparison may have been unfortunate but there is an economic holocaust under way in my country." |
In an earlier rant he implied that Jews were behind the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, repeating a debunked conspiracy theory: "And let's not forget that among the 2,500 Jews working at the Twin Towers not one went to work that day." | In an earlier rant he implied that Jews were behind the September 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, repeating a debunked conspiracy theory: "And let's not forget that among the 2,500 Jews working at the Twin Towers not one went to work that day." |
He had also been accused of writing tweets and Facebook posts that contain racist and homophobic comments. | He had also been accused of writing tweets and Facebook posts that contain racist and homophobic comments. |
The accounts were deactivated after Mr Kammenos was named as a member of the government. | The accounts were deactivated after Mr Kammenos was named as a member of the government. |
In a statement on Wednesday he apologised, saying: "I categorically condemn racism, homophobia and anti-Semitism." | In a statement on Wednesday he apologised, saying: "I categorically condemn racism, homophobia and anti-Semitism." |
He said his accounts had been hacked in the past. | He said his accounts had been hacked in the past. |
According to Greek media, Alexis Tsipras called his coalition partner Panos Kammenos and asked him to investigate the authenticity of the posts. | According to Greek media, Alexis Tsipras called his coalition partner Panos Kammenos and asked him to investigate the authenticity of the posts. |
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