REPORTS
The Himaras Case: Financial prosecutor orders investigation after New Democracy MP resigns over public procurement contracts
On 4 January 2023, the New Democracy MP of Fthiotida, Themis Himaras, submitted his resignation in the wake of revelations that a private company that he was involved in had undertaken public procurement contracts during his parliamentary term.
According to Documento’s revelations, Mr Himaras has been involved in a printing business as a general partner since 2005 and as a manager, representative and director since 2020. The report claims that the company has been awarded 400 thousand euros in procurement contracts during the parliamentary term of the MP. More specifically, the documents detail that the company has concluded around 100 contracts with the Municipality of Lamia, with a total value of more than 160 thousand euros. The largest contracts allegedly concluded with other municipalities include supply contracts with the Municipality of Amfiklia – Elateia, for around EUR 100 thousand, with the Municipality of Stylida for around EUR 38 thousand and with the Municipality of Kamena Vourla for EUR 13 thousand.
Following the revelations, the company’s name was changed from THEMIS HIMARAS AND CO. to D. RIKOS AND CO. and Mr. Himaras left the company. In his letter of resignation, the former Member of Parliament stressed that there was no increase in sales for the company during his term of office.
The MP is now being investigated for felony-level offences, including money laundering.The contracts concluded between the company and any public body will be checked for violations of Article 57 of the Constitution.
In a state governed by the rule of law, the independence of parliamentarians must be guaranteed. Article 57 of the Constitution lists the activities that are incompatible with holding office, and MPs must within 8 days of their election choose by declaration between the status of MP and any of the incompatible activities listed in Article 57.
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