PRESIDENT Demetris Christofias has angrily rejected criticism of the government for not preventing the transfer of Marfin banking group’s headquarters to Athens, placing the blame squarely on Central Bank (CB) Governor Athanasios Orphanides.
Answering questions from the press after the annual general meeting of the Employers and Industrialists Federation (OEV) on Monday evening, Christofias said that “the government bears no responsibility, absolutely none, for what happened with Marfin”, adding that “this is a matter for the Governor, so speak to Mr Orphanides.”
Asked what he had actually done to prevent Marfin’s departure, Christofias said: “I tried to prevent such an eventuality to the extent I am allowed to by my authority as President of the Republic, without interfering in the work of independent office-holders”.
He added: “The President of the Republic cannot interfere; there is a Constitution, there are state laws and I call on the political parties to also respect these and the independence of office-holders.”
Referring to the criticism expressed by opposition politicians, Christofias said: “There is a big contradiction here. We start to say something, and we are told that the government is interfering in the area of authority of the Central Bank Governor, whose independence I have defended so many times and still defend. And now, how and to what extent are they asking the government to intervene?”
Asked whether Marfin Investment Group Executive Vice-Chairman Andreas Vgenopoulos had informed him of the intention to move the banking group’s headquarters to Athens, Christofias was unequivocal when referring to their meeting on 12 March
“Of course the man told me. But I can’t issue decrees and force any financial actor to do what I think is the right thing,” he said.
“As far as I am concerned, I cannot do anything at all. You should address your questions to the Central Bank Governor.” Christofias then re-jigged a quote from the Bible to reflect a communist rather than a religious view: “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and render unto the people the things that are the people’s.”
When pressed further about possible government responsibility, Christofias did not hide his irritation: “Come on now, honestly. It is not the government’s responsibility, it is the responsibility of the Central Bank. It is the responsibility of the various supervisory bodies or institutions.”
