Greece's political landscape faced a new controversy as Deputy Agriculture Minister Makarios Lazaridis stepped down amid allegations of falsifying his academic credentials. The resignation came after intense scrutiny over his 2007 appointment as a special scientific adviser at the Education Ministry, where he allegedly lacked the required university degree.

Details of the Allegations

Lazaridis, appointed under Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’s New Democracy government, presented a diploma from the now-defunct College of Southeastern Europe—a private institution whose qualifications weren't equivalent to Greek public university degrees at the time of his 1992 graduation. Opposition parties like SYRIZA labeled him a "fraud" and demanded his dismissal, accusing the government of cronyism. Although Lazaridis denied wrongdoing, claiming compliance with hiring rules for political roles and dismissing a past social media post referencing a public university as a "typographical error," the pressure mounted leading to his exit.

Government Response and Broader Context

Initially, the government backed Lazaridis, but the scandal revived debates on qualifications in public office. This isn't isolated; earlier in 2026, an EU probe into farm fraud led to the Agriculture Minister's resignation, highlighting ongoing integrity challenges. No criminal charges are confirmed yet, but the event underscores Greece's push for transparency amid opposition attacks.

The resignation eases immediate tension for Mitsotakis's administration as it navigates tourism recovery and economic goals in April 2026.