Since it became known that the president of SYRIZA-Progressive Alliance, Stefanos Kasselakis, owns companies abroad, the Prosecutor’s Office of the Supreme Court and the Anti-Money Laundering Authority are on standby, as this is not compatible with the status of party president.
As it became known, if and when it is considered that an offense is being dealt with, it is not at the level of a felony, but a misdemeanor. Besides, it must be investigated by the Anti-Laundering of Proceeds from Criminal Activities (money laundering) if the company of the president of SYRIZA is actually based abroad or is an “offshore company” and if sums of money were legally imported into Greece with sender this company.
At the same time, as reported by the information, it is possible that the Financial Prosecutor’s Office will be active as well. At the same time, it will be investigated whether Mr. Kasselakis provided a loan to a party media company in accordance with the prescribed legal procedures, so that the employees could be paid and the Christmas gift-allowance granted to them. Furthermore, it is pointed out that the issue also falls under the competence of the Parliament, which must check the statement of whereabouts (property, etc. situation) of Mr. Kasselakis, if he has submitted it.
However, Mr. Kasselakis is not a member of parliament and thus it should be investigated whether, since he has a company abroad, he could assume the duties of party leader or should he first transfer the company and then assume his new duties.
However, all possibilities are open, without excluding any development, which is not expected to be immediate, as it is not considered to be a major issue, and indeed – if it is dealt with – it will be at the level of a misdemeanor.
Kasselakis: “I will sell the companies abroad”, responds to a publication that he is the owner of a foreign company
Stefanos Kasselakis responded to a publication of the website news247.gr with his post, which brought him as the owner and legal representative of the company Osios LLC, based in the USA at least until December 2023.
According to the publication, the fact arises from the loan agreement given at Christmas by a company of Mr. Kasselakis’ interests to the company Left Media AE, with the aim of paying the employees of the SYRIZA party media and giving them a Christmas present. The loan agreement on behalf of Osios LLC was signed by Mr. Kasselakis himself, who, as mentioned in the text, is also the sole partner of the company.
All of the above causes many legal and political questions, as a law brought by the Tsipras government in 2016 prohibits the participation of the president of SYRIZA in the management or capital of companies with real or statutory headquarters abroad. In fact, those who violate the law are punished with imprisonment of at least two years and a fine of between 10,000 euros and 500,000 euros.
In his post, Stefanos Kasselakis responded that he will consult his lawyers on whether there is anything incompatible with his political capacity and if the law concerns him, he will sell the companies he owns abroad.
He writes in detail:
Everyone knows that I am a businessman with activity abroad, where I lived until recently, for a whole 21 years. I will immediately be informed by my lawyers if the law applies to parliamentary party leaders, who are not allowed to own foreign companies. As you know, I am not a Member of Parliament. As far as the law concerns me, I will sell the companies I have abroad. Only the people of SYRIZA I will never “sell”, at any personal financial cost. In any case, Maris will not buy SYRIZA cheaply, as he already tried. PS: I would never leave SYRIZA media workers unpaid. It’s a matter of principle.
Everyone knows that I am a businessman with activity abroad, where I lived until recently, for a whole 21 years.
I will immediately be informed by my lawyers if the law applies to parliamentary party leaders, who are not allowed to be owners…— Stefanos Kasselakis (@skasselakis) February 23, 2024
The News 247 article
To Νews 247 in his publication entitled “Owner of a foreign company Stefanos Kasselakis”, he claims that the loan given by Stefanos Kasselakis to SYRIZA to pay the workers of the party media in December came from a company of the foreign interests of the president of SYRIZA.
The publication claims that the president of SYRIZA – PS, Stefanos Kasselakis, at least during the month of December 2023, was the owner and legal representative of the foreign company, Osios LLC, which is expressly prohibited by the legislation on the incompatibility of political persons.
And the News 247 article continues:
“On 21.12.2023 Osios LLC lends Left Media AE 230,000 euros through an account of Osios LLC at UBS Financial Services Inc, which is based in the USA. In the loan agreement, the address of Osios LLC is 88 SW 7th ST, MIAMI, FL 33130 USA, while the seal states “Corporate Seal, 2017, DELAWARE”.
The contract on behalf of Osios LLC was signed by Mr. Kasselakis himself, in his capacity as sole partner of the company, exactly as stated in the contract.
In Delaware’s publicly accessible business registry records, the company is listed as “Domestic,” meaning a company based within the state of Delaware.
The News 247 article notes that according to Greek law, it is expressly prohibited for any person to simultaneously hold the status of President of a political party represented in the Parliament and that of the owner or manager of a foreign company. The law, on the other hand, provides for severe penalties for persons who violate the relevant provisions. In fact, this ban was institutionalized by a law passed by the SYRIZA government of Alexis Tsipras in 2016.
In addition to the legal issue, News247 is also talking about a political issue. “[…] a major political issue is clearly created, regarding the complete ignorance regarding the property situation of Stefanos Kasselakis.
So far, the only information that exists regarding his financial situation comes exclusively from his own statements. [..]. Also a political issue is the possible violation by the President of SYRIZA of the legislation regarding his participation in a foreign company, since the relevant legislative proposal was voted on by SYRIZA with a personal proposal of Alexis Tsipras”.
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