Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras Political party ANEL | Succeeded by Panagiotis Sgouridis Party Independent Greeks | |
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.
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Political career
Kammenos is a Member of Parliament (MP) for the Independent Greeks (ANEL) representing Piraeus B. In the Second Tsipras Cabinet, on 23 September 2015, Kammenos was sworn in as Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks, "on the recommendation of his coalition partner" Panos Kammenos. Syriza MP Vassiliki Katrivanou expressed "disappointment and indignation" at the appointment of Kammenos, and appealed to Alexis Tsipras to remove him from office.
Resignation
On 23 September, following pressure from within the government, Kammenos was asked to step down until, according to party leader Panos Kammenos, "until the truth was established" surrounding his "anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks."
Controversy
In June 2015, Kammenos posted a doctored image on Facebook of the gate to Auschwitz concentration camp, replacing the word "Arbeit Macht Frei" (English: Work Sets You Free) 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." He was criticised for his statements by the Central Board of Jewish Communities in Greece and others.
In the past, Kammenos has also insinuated that Jewish people were responsible for the 9/11 terrorist attacks, writing: "And let's not forget that among the 2,500 Jews working at the Twin Towers not one went to work that day."
Personal life
Kammenos is not related to, although he shares the same surname as, the leader of the ANEL, Panos Kammenos.