Dimitris Kammenos

Dimitris Kammenos (Greek: Δημήτρης Καμμένος) is a Greek politician who served for less than one day as Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks in the Second Tsipras Cabinet.

Dimitris Kammenos
MP
Δημήτρης Καμμένος
Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks
In office
23 September 2015 – 23 September 2015
Prime MinisterAlexis Tsipras
Succeeded byPanagiotis Sgouridis
Member of the Hellenic Parliament for Piraeus B
In office
25 January 2015 – 7 July 2019
Personal details
Born (1966-04-27) 27 April 1966
Athens, Greece
Political partyIndependent[1]

Controversy

In June 2015, Kammenos posted a doctored image on Facebook of the gate to Auschwitz concentration camp, replacing the words "Work Sets You Free" (German: Arbeit Macht Frei) with "We Stay in Europe", mocking pro-EU demonstrators. Kammenos later apologised, saying: "The comparison may have been unfortunate but there is an economic holocaust under way in my country."[2] He was criticised for his statements by the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece and others.[3]

In the past, Kammenos has also insinuated that Jewish people were responsible for the September 11 attacks, falsely claiming, "and let's not forget that among the 2,500 Jews working at the Twin Towers not one went to work that day."[2]

Political career

Kammenos was elected as a Member of Parliament for the Independent Greeks (ANEL) party representing Piraeus B region.

In the Second Tsipras Cabinet, on 23 September 2015, Kammenos was sworn in as Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks,[4] "on the recommendation of his coalition partner" Panos Kammenos.[5] Syriza MP Vassiliki Katrivanou expressed "disappointment and indignation" at the appointment of Kammenos, and appealed to Alexis Tsipras to remove him from office. Following pressure from within the government, Kammenos was asked to step down, according to party leader Panos Kammenos, "until the truth was established" surrounding his "anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks."[2] He resigned after just 12 hours in Cabinet.[2]

On 16 June 2018, Dimitris Kammenos voted against his party and supported a motion of no-confidence against the Second Tsipras Cabinet concerning the Prespa agreement, a proposal that would result in the Republic of Macedonia being renamed the Republic of North Macedonia. Kammenos was expelled from the party immediately after the vote, leaving the coalition with a majority of three. In response to the Greco-FYROMese agreement, Kammenos announced creation of his own political party Force of Hellenism (Greek: Δύναμη Ελληνισμού), whose goal would be to stop the Macedonian naming deal.

References
  1. "Greek government survive no-confidence vote over Macedonia name deal". 16 June 2018.
  2. "New Greek minister Kammenos quits in tweets row". BBC News. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  3. Mackey, Robert (24 June 2015). "Greek Lawmaker Compares Debt Crisis to Holocaust". New York Times. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  4. "Controversial Independent Greeks MP Dimitris Kammenos gets post in new government". Kathimerini. 23 September 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
  5. "Greek minister resigns amid row over antisemitic tweets". The Guardian. Reuters. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 24 January 2016.
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